Patent Abstract:
A stopper device including a stopper, cap and ring provided with tabs for locking onto a container neck and a body for handling the ring. The body includes a first mechanism for transmitting a thrust force to the ring and a second mechanism for activating the tabs. The ring and the handling body are respectively provided with first and second retainers that hold the handling body in a waiting position. The handling body is mobile parallel to the thrust force direction and in relation to the ring, between a first position activating the tabs of the ring and is mobile in translation only in the thrust force direction, and a second position that also activates the tabs and is immobilized in relation to the ring in axial translation. The tabs extend from a continuous edge of the ring and are each arranged in an opening with a closed contour.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Section 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/070815, filed Nov. 23, 2011, which was published in the French language on May 31, 2012, under International Publication No WO 2012/069538 A1 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a stopping device for a container equipped with a neck, as well as to a container provided with such a device. The invention also relates to a method for closing a batch of containers provided with a stopping device. 
         [0003]    In the field of containers for medication, it is common to use a glass vial to preserve an active principle in the form of lyophilizate, power or liquid solution. Such a vial must be closed in a dry manner in order to maintain its content in a satisfactory preserving state, until the date it is used. 
         [0004]    In order to hermetically seal off a vial, it is common to use a stopping device that consists of a elastomer stopper and plastic cap intended to be immobilized around the stopper to insulate the exterior. 
         [0005]    WO-A-2007/063218 offers a stopping device, the cap of which consists of a ring and a body that allows maneuvering the locking means of the ring on the neck of a container. Moreover, WO-A-2007/129144 is known to integrate a deformable transmission element with thrust force into a stopping device which is intended to fade when a thrust force has been sufficiently transmitted to bring a body into a position where it activates the locking means of a cap on the neck of a container. FR-A-2 927 divulges the use of a linking veil that connects a central batch with a peripheral edge and which presents different rigidities on different deformation tracks. FR-A-2 908 396 offers a stopping device in which a ring has a curbed extremity towards the exterior and cooperates with an internal peripheral groove of a ring to maintain locking means in an immobilized position of the stopping device. These known devices offer overall satisfaction, particularly when they are used on vials, of which the neck has a diameter of 20 mm. 
         [0006]    When these stopping devices are used to seal off vials that belong to a batch of vials installed within a freeze-drier, by exercising a thrust force divided over the different stopping devices to bring them into a closed configuration, the thrust force exercised by means of a common body called “pressure plate” is divided over the different stopping devices. When we use containers with a relatively small diameter, particularly containers with a neck of a diameter of 13 mm, it is economically speaking interesting to install a batch of previously equipped containers of stopping devices in a freeze-drier with the largest number of containers possible. In this case, the combined thrust force that is exercised by the pressure plate on each stopping device has a relatively weak intensity, equal to 25 Newtons for a classic freeze-drier. Under these conditions, it is important to minimize the necessary force to bring each stopping device into its usable configuration where it efficiently closes the neck of a container. 
         [0007]    It is this problem that aims at dealing with the present invention by offering a stopping device in which the necessary energy to bring the device into a usable configuration is minimized. 
         [0008]    In this regard, the invention relates to a stopping device of a container provided with a neck, whereby this device contains a stopper and plastic cap, suitable for covering both the neck and the stopper in place on the neck, whereby this cap consists of a ring, suitable for surrounding the stopper and the neck in mounted configuration and provided with locking means on the neck, as well as a handling body of the ring, suitable to be mounted on the ring and provided with first means for transmission to the ring of a thrust force and second activation means of locking means of the ring, while the ring and handling body, respectively, are provided with first retaining means and second retaining means that cooperate together to maintain the handling body in a holding position in relation to the ring, where it does not activate the locking means of the ring. In conformity with the invention, the handling body is mobile in translation only in the direction of the thrust force, and a second position where it also activates the locking means of the ring and where it is immobilized in relation to the ring in translation in the two directions, according to a direction that is parallel to the thrust force, while the handling body comprises a first cylindrical surface with a straight generatrix or in the shape of a truncated cone arranged facing the first retaining means of the ring, on the course of travel of the handling body between its first and second positions, and a second cylindrical surface with straight generatrix or in the shape of truncated cone arranged facing the locking means of the ring, on the course of travel of the handling body between its first and second positions. Additionally, the locking means of the ring comprise tabs that extend from a first continuous edge of this ring, in the direction of the second edge of the ring opposite its first, edge, while the diameter of a circle that passes the external radial parts of the locking tabs has a higher value than the external diameter of the first edge and that each tab is arranged in an opening with closed contour which crosses the ring according to a radial direction in relation to a longitudinal and central axis of this ring. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Thanks to the invention, the handling body can be brought from its holding position to its first position where it ensures, through its action on the locking means, the efficient adhesion of the device on the container. Then, the two cylindrical surfaces with a straight generatrix or in the shape of truncated cone allow for the frictions to be limited between the handling body and the ring during the movement of the handling body between its first and its second position. This results in the fact that the necessary force to bring the handling body from its first to the second position is of limited intensity, which allows for considering acting simultaneously on a large number of stopping devices or to run a control operation based on a calibrated force allowing to pass from the first to the second position of the handling body. In addition, the positioning of the locking tabs in the openings with closed contour and the fact that the edge of the ring is continuous gives a certain flexibility to the tabs that is sufficient to fulfill their function, while the ring is resistant, mechanically speaking. 
         [0010]    According to the advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the invention, such a device can incorporate one or several of the following characteristics taken in any combination that is technically acceptable: 
         [0011]    The handling body comprises a buttress that prevents the handling body from traveling in relation to the ring, from the first position and extending to the second position, by cooperating with the first retaining means provided on the ring. 
         [0012]    The handling body comprises an annular skirt and the first and second surfaces, as well as possibly the buttress mentioned above, are arranged on an internal surface of this skirt. 
         [0013]    The locking means, on the one hand, and the handling body, on the other hand, are respectively provided with first and second immobilizing means that cooperate together in order to immobilize the handling body in translation in relation to the ring in the second position. In this case, the first immobilizing means advantageously consist at least of an overhanging element arranged on an external radial side of a tab, while the second immobilizing means consist at least of a compartment in reception cavity of the overhanging element when the handling body is in its second position. 
         [0014]    The first retaining means are arranged on deformable bands that extend, according to a direction that is parallel to the thrust fort, between an annular part of the ring intended to support on an exposed side of the stopper and annular edge of the ring from which the locking means extend. 
         [0015]    A lid is connected with the ring and it insulates a central opening of the ring from the exterior that gives access to an exposed surface of the stopper, while the handling body consists of an annular skirt that surrounds the stopper, except at the level of a notch arranged in a higher edge of the skirt opposite the container in a mounted configuration of the device and when a radial clearance is arranged between the lid and the higher edge of the skirt, at least adjacent to a zone of the skirt diametrically opposite the notch. 
         [0016]    The handling body consists of an annular skirt with a circular section that radially surrounds the ring when the handling body is in the holding position and in the first and second positions, while the exterior diameter of the skirt is less than 16.5 mm, preferably between 15.8 mm and 16.2 mm. 
         [0017]    The invention also relates to a container equipped with a stopping device as mentioned above. 
         [0018]    To conclude, the invention relates to a method for closing a batch of containers as mentioned above, whereby this method consists of the following phases: 
         [0019]    a) preassemble each stopping device with its stopper and its cap in a holding position, 
         [0020]    b) pre-mount the devices on the necks of containers by engaging their stoppers in these necks, 
         [0021]    c) exercise, by means of a pressure body, a common thrust force on all of the devices, in such a way to completely engage the stoppers in the necks, and to bring the handling body of each stopping device in its first position, in its second position or in an intermediary position between these first and second positions, 
         [0022]    d) exercise individually on each handling body of the stopping devices, a thrust force calibrated in a direction of travel of the handling body from its first position towards its second position, 
         [0023]    e) determine if the handling body has reached its second position at the end of phase d), and 
         [0024]    f) if the result of the phase e) is negative, identify the stopping device as incorrectly mounted on the corresponding container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The invention will be better understood and other advantages of this invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description that will follow an embodiment of a stopping device, of a container and of a method in conformity with its principle, given uniquely by way of example and done with reference to the annexed drawings in which: 
           [0026]      FIGS. 1 to 5  represent schematically, in an axial view and in perspective, several phases of packaging a product in the containers in conformity with the invention, 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a view at a much larger scale of detail VI in  FIG. 3 , 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an axial view, in perspective and at a much larger scale, of the cap of stopping devices of containers of  FIGS. 1 to 5 , 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view, at a much smaller scale and an exterior view, of the cap represented in a cross-section view in  FIG. 6 , 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are exploded perspective views, according to two different angles, of the cap of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a view at a much larger scale of detail XI in  FIG. 4 , whereby the pressure plate is omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawing, and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 12 to 15  are views analog to  FIG. 11  during the later phases of a closing method in conformity with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]      FIGS. 1 to 5  represent different phases of packaging of a product P in glass vials  1  that constitute the containers. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 1 , vial  1  is in the process of being filled with product P, for instance a medicine. Pipette  2  is introduced in vial  1  through its neck  11  which is defined by a neck  12  that presents an external ring  13 . X 1  is marked as the symmetry axis of vial  1 . 
         [0035]    When a predetermined amount of product P has been introduced in vial  1 , pipette  2  is removed and a stopping device  50  is placed on neck  12 . 
         [0036]    Device  50  consists of an elastomer stopper  51  in adapted form to be partially introduced in neck  11 , by resting completely on side  131  of neck ring  13  opposite bottom  14  of vial  1 . Once it is in place in neck  12 , stopper  51  separates the content of vial  1  from the exterior. 
         [0037]    Device  5  also consists of a cap  52  intended to cover and insulate stopper  51  and neck  12  in closed configuration of stopping device  50 . 
         [0038]    As it is evident from  FIGS. 7 to 10  in particular, cap  52  consists of a plastic ring  53 , which is at the interior circular section and the internal diameter of which is sufficient to allow it to surround neck ring  13 . 
         [0039]    Cap  52  also consists of a handling body of ring  53 , comprised of a plastic crown  54  and which is intended to form the external peripheral cover of cap  52 . Additionally, cap  52  also consists of a lid  56  that is also made out of plastic. This lid  56  is completely in rotational symmetry about a central axis X 56 . 
         [0040]      541  is marked as the edge of crown  54  which is oriented towards vial  1  in an installed configuration of cap  52  on this vial. This edge  541  can be qualified as being “lower” to the extent that it is oriented towards the bottom in the configuration of  FIGS. 2 to 5 . In this description, the spatial orientation of the different elements mentioned is considered in the case where, device  50  is mounted on a vial  1  that rests on a flat surface by its bottom  14 . A part is said to be “lower” when it is oriented towards the bottom in this configuration and is said to be “higher” when it is oriented towards the top. 
         [0041]    Top edge  542  of crown  54 , which is opposite edge  541 , is provided with a notch  543 . With the exception of this notch, crown  54  is in rotational symmetry about an axis X 54 . 
         [0042]    Ring  53  is centered on an axis X 53  which is aligned with the axes X 54  and X 56  in assembled configuration of cap  52 , whereby this axis is mixed up with a central axis X 52  of cap  52 . 
         [0043]    Ring  53  consists of an annular part  531  that defines a central opening  532  through which it, is possible to access the top surface  511  of stopper  51  if need be. 
         [0044]      561  is marked as the internal surface of lid  56 , in other words, its surface is turned towards stopper  51  in mounted configuration of device  50  on vial  1 . Lid  56  is provided with a skirt  562  centered on axis X 56  and which extends parallel to this axis from surface  561 . 
         [0045]    During the manufacturing of cap  52 , lid  56  is brought onto ring  53  by bringing closer surface  561  of part  531 , by introducing skirt  562  in opening  532  and by uniting lid  56  on part  531  through merger of four platforms  563  arranged, for that purpose, on surface  561  and equally distributed around skirt  562 . 
         [0046]    When lid  56  has been fixed on ring  53 , crown  54  is engaged around elements  54  and  56  in such a way that it demarcates the maximum radial girth of cap  52  in relation to axis X 52 . 
         [0047]    In practice, the geometry of the pieces  53 ,  54  and  56  is chosen in such a way that the maximum external diameter D 54  of crown  54  has value lower than 16.5 mm, preferably between 15.8 and 16.2 mm, yet preferably equal to 16 mm. 
         [0048]    Under these conditions, when a vial  1  is used of which body  16  has a diameter that is equal to 16 mm, which is common for certain medications, cap  52  mounted on vial  1  does not pass or only passes the body of vial  1  a little bit, in a radial direction in relation to axis X 1 . This allows for vials  1 , which are previously equipped with stopping device  50 , to juxtapose on a shelf of a freeze-drier with high density, resulting from the relatively weak diameter of the bodies of these vials without the risk that the vials are destabilized by the stopping devices they support. 
         [0049]    Ring  53  consists of five bands  533  that extend from part  531  until the lower edge of ring  53  which is formed by a continuous ring  534  around axis X 53 . External radial edge  5311  of part  531  defines a second edge or top edge of ring  53  and the bands  533  extend between edges  534  and  5311 . 
         [0050]    Each band  533  is provided with an external rib  535  that juts out radially towards the exterior in relation to axis X 53  in relation to this tab. A window  536 , i.e. a open zone with closed contour that puts the interior volume of ring  53  and the exterior in contact, is defined between each pair of two adjacent bands  533 . 
         [0051]    A locking tab  537  extends from ring  534  in each window  536 . Taking into account the intrinsic flexibility of the material that makes up ring  53 , each tab  537  can pivot around its base in relation to edge  534 . In other words, each tab  537  can be more or less folded towards the interior of ring  53  in function of the forces it endures. 
         [0052]      5371  is marked as the free edge of tab  537  and  5372  is marked as its exterior surface that adjoins this free edge. Exterior surface  5372  of each tab  537  is in the shape of a piece of cone-shaped surface  5373 , centered on axis X 53  and converging in the direction of edge  534 . Surface  5372  forms thus the top external peripheral surface of a tab  537  while its surface  5373  forms a lower external peripheral surface. The respective diameters of surfaces  5372  and  5373  of a tab are chosen in such a way that a spout with circular arch  5374  is formed at the junction between these surfaces and defines a shoulder  5375  on the side of surface  5373 . The spouts  5374  form the external radial parts of tabs  537 . 
         [0053]    D 534  is marked as the exterior diameter of edge  534 . D 537  is marked as the diameter of an imaginary circle C 537  centered on axis X 53  and passing by the spouts  5374 . In a non-tight position of locking tabs  537 , the value of the diameter D 537  is higher than that of the diameter D 537 , by at least 1.5 mm. Even when crown  54  surrounds the locking tabs  537 , as envisioned above, the diameter D 537  has a value that is higher than diameter D 534 , whereby the difference between these values is reduced. 
         [0054]    Ring  53  on the interior of the junction zone between band  533  and part  531  is provided with ribs  538  intended to superficially penetrate in stopper  51  in order to immobilize this stopper in ring  53  and in cap  52 . 
         [0055]    Essentially, crown  54  consists of a skirt  544  that extends between edges  541  and  542 , which is cylindrical to the circular section and of which  545  is marked as the external radial surface and  546  as the internal radial surface. 
         [0056]    Surface  546  is provided with a rib  5461  that extends in the direction of axis X 54  and which is demarcated by a top surface  5462  perpendicular to axis X 54  and an lower surface  5463  converging in the direction of edge  541 . 
         [0057]    Surface  546  is also provided with a peripheral groove  5464 , the height H 1  of which is measured parallel to axis X 54  is sufficient to receive the ribs  535  of bands  533  in a configuration where crown  54  is in a holding position in relation to ring  53 . This configuration is represented in  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  7 . 
         [0058]    Surface  546  also consists of a first cylindrical surface with straight generatrix  5465  that extends between rib  5461  and edge  542  and a second surface  5466  in the shape of truncated cone, splitting in the direction of edge  541  and which extends between groove  5464  and edge  541 . Surfaces  5465  and  5466  are centered on axis X 53 . 
         [0059]    The angle at the top of surface  5466  is less than 10°, preferably equal to 7°. 
         [0060]    When lid  56  has been welded on ring  53 , as explained above, crown  54  is engaged around elements  53  and  56  thanks to a pre-assembly axial force E 1 , i.e. parallel to axes X 52 , X 53 , X 54  and X 56  which are then merged. This results in the fact that skirt  544  is brought around bands  533 . This movement is followed until ribs  535  move into groove  5464  and are locked in there. The sliding of crown  54  in relation to ring  53  takes place thanks to the elasticity of bands  533  that can elastically deform when their respective ribs  535  slid along surface  5466  of crown  54 , prior to moving into groove  5464 . In other words, the geometry of ring  53  gives bands  533  a sufficient flexibility so that the setup of crown  54  around elements  53  and  56  is easy. In practice, bands  53  extend each, in relation to axis X 53  on an angular sector at an angle at the top less than 30°, preferably 25°, which gives them proper elasticity. 
         [0061]    When cap  52  has been pre-assembled, it is possible to put stopper  51  in it by introducing it on the inside of ring  53  until ribs  538  superficially penetrate in stopper  51 , which assures that the stopper remains in the ring. Alternatively, stopper  51  can be placed on neck  12  of vial  1 , as presented in  FIG. 3  before cap  52  is placed on the stopper. In all cases, we achieve the configuration of  FIG. 3  in which stopper  51  does not completely cover neck  11  since this stopper is provided with a lateral cut  512  that arranges an interstice  200  at the level of part of the top side  131  of neck  13 . 
         [0062]    Equipped vial  1  of device  50  can thus be introduced in a freeze-drier  300  within a batch of vials  1 . In  FIGS. 3 to 5 , three vials present a batch that can consist of several hundred, in fact several thousand vials placed in freeze-drier  300 . Additionally, the vials can be placed in this freeze-drier on several platforms placed on top. In this freeze-drier, the water molecules that are present in each vial  1  are evacuated towards the exterior, as presented by arrow F 1  in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , through the interstices that remain between cap  52  and neck ring  13 . 
         [0063]    On the inside of a freeze-drier, as presented in  FIG. 4 , it is then possible to exercise a thrust force E 2  on devices  50  parallel to longitudinal axis X 1  of vials  1  and necks  11 , axis with which axes X 52  of different caps  52  are merged. This axial force E 2  is exercised by a mobile plate  301  on the inside of the freeze-drier and commanded by an actuator  302 . At the same time, plate  301  sensibly exercises the same joint force E′ 2  on cap  52  of each vial  1  of a row of vials placed at the same level, on the same platform  303  in the freeze-drier. 
         [0064]    The sum of forces E′ 2  is equal to the force E 2 . 
         [0065]    In the configuration of  FIGS. 4 and 11 , crown  54  is in a holding configuration to the extent that it does no longer interact with locking tabs  537 . 
         [0066]    The application of force E 2  results in the progression of crown  54  of each cap  52  in the direction of the bottom  14  of each of vials  1 , as presented by the passage from the configuration of  FIGS. 3 and 6  to that of  FIGS. 4 and 11 . Force E′ 2  is transmitted from crown  54  to ring  53  by means of groove  5464  and ribs  535  that cooperate. Thus, force E 2  exercised on each device  50  results in bringing tabs  537  of its ring  53  between neck ring  13  and body  16  of the vial, around the part of neck  12  not provided with neck ring  13 . 
         [0067]    The truncated cone nature of surface  5466  gives a progressive character to the tipping over of the locking tabs  537  from the position of  FIG. 13  to that of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0068]    Annular part  531  comes thus in contact with the top surface  511  of stopper  31  which stops the progression of ring  53  in the direction of bottom  14 . The continuation of the application of force E 2  on crown  54  of each device  50  results in chasing rib  535  of each band  533  on the exterior of groove  5464  by elastic deformation of bands  533 , which allows crown  54  to attain the positions of  FIGS. 12 to 14  successively. This allows, in an initial instance, edge  541  of crown  54  to come in contact with surfaces  5372  of the different tabs  537 , as presented in  FIG. 12 . The continuation of this movement results in sliding surfaces  5372  against edge  541 , which moves back tabs  537  radially towards axis X 1 , by bringing their free edges  5371  against the lower peripheral surface  132  of neck ring  13 , as presented in  FIG. 13 . This movement also results in the fact that ribs  535  come in contact with rib  5461 . Top surfaces  5351  of ribs  535 , which are oriented towards part  531 , are in the shape of truncated cone and converge towards axis X 53  by approaching part  531 . Thus, when ribs  535  and  5461  come in contact by their surfaces  5351  and  5463 , as presented in  FIG. 13 , these surfaces are in sliding contact. This allows to deform bands  533  elastically and progressively at the point where ribs  535  radially move back towards the interior, i.e. in the direction of axis X 53  to pass rib  5461  by approaching edge  542 . 
         [0069]    This movement continues until the configuration of  FIG. 14  is attained where ribs  535  have slid against the lower surface  5463  of rib  5461  and have come to be locked on top of the latter, by being in support against surface  5462  of this rib. In this respect, we note that lower surface  5352  of each rib  535 , which is turned towards edge  534 , is perpendicular to axis X 53 . Thus, in the configuration of  FIG. 14 , which forms a first remarkable position for the constituent elements of cap  52 , surfaces  5352  and  5462  offer surface support and are perpendicular to axis X 1 , in such a way that they are efficiently opposed to any travel of ring  54  opposite bottom  14 , i.e. in a direction opposite that of joint force E′ 2  applied on crown  54 . In this configuration, i.e. when crown  54  is in its first position in relation to ring  53 , ring  54  is efficiently retained in position in relation to a wrenching movement that has the tendency of separating from bottom  14 , thanks to the cooperation of ribs  535  and  5461 . 
         [0070]    When ring  54  is in its first position of  FIG. 14 , device  50  is in an intermediary or non-finalized configuration in which a relative axial movement between elements  53  and  54  remains possible within the limits set by the buttress formed by rib  5461 . The continuation of the application of individual thrust force E′ 2  on edge  542  of crown  540  results in passing this from the position of  FIG. 14  to the position of  FIG. 15  by sliding spouts  5374  of locking tabs  537  against surface  5466  of skirt  544  until these spouts move into groove  5464 , as presented in  FIG. 15 . In this configuration, crown  54  is axially immobilized along axes X 52 , X 53 , X 54  and X 56  which are merged, in relation to ring  53  due to the cooperation of spouts  5374  and groove  5464 . 
         [0071]    Ideally, in terms of the action of actuator  302 , i.e. in the configuration of  FIG. 5 , all devices  50  should be in the configuration of  FIG. 15 . Nevertheless, due to a possible planarity defect of platform  303  or of plate  301  and manufacturing tolerances of vials  1  and devices  50 , the necessary course to bring crown  54  in the position of  FIG. 15  can vary from vial  1  to another. Thus, as presented in  FIG. 5 , the two vials on the left on this figure can have their device  50  in the configuration of  FIG. 14  while the vial on the right side has its device  50  in the configuration of  FIG. 15 . In other words, the course of plate  301  is regulated so that all devices  50  that equip the different vials  1  mounted on a platform  303  reach at least the configuration of  FIG. 14 , starting from the configuration of  FIG. 11  whereby certain ones of these can arrive at the position of  FIG. 15  or in an intermediary position between those of  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
         [0072]    As spouts  5374  of tabs  537  slide on surface  5466  during the travel from cap  54  of the position of  FIG. 14  to that of  FIG. 15 , while ribs  535  travel parallel to surface  5465  without coming in contact with it, the resistant force that is endured by crown  54  is weak when crown  54  travels from its first position to its second position in relation to ring  53 . 
         [0073]    In the configuration of  FIG. 14 , crown  54  is in its first position in which skirt  544  ensures, through the bracing it exercises on tabs  537 , that these tabs are maintained in a configuration engaged with surface  132  of neck ring  13 . In other words, crown  54  forms a handling body of ring  53 , which actives the locking means formed by tabs  537 . In this position, crown  54  can travel in the direction of the bottom  14  but cannot separate from this bottom since it is blocked by the cooperation of ribs  535  and  5461 . 
         [0074]    In terms of lowering movement of plate  301 , it is possible to extract vials  1  of freeze-drier  300  and to submit each in turn to a calibrated individual force E 3 , the intensity of which is for instance equal to 20 Newtons. The application of this force E 3  allows to slide crown  54  in the direction of the bottom  14 , i.e. approach its edge  541  of body  16  of vial  1 , by sliding around elements  53  and  56 . This sliding movement is hardly slowed down since the single point of contact between crown  54  and ring  53  is the support zone of spouts  5374  on surface  5466 , which induces a weak friction force. 
         [0075]    Taking into account this weak friction force between pieces  53  and  56 , force E 3 , which has a relatively weak intensity, is sufficient to normally bring ring  54  of each device  50  in the configuration of  FIG. 15  or in an intermediary configuration between those of  FIGS. 14 and 15  into its second position in which spouts  5374  are moved in groove  5464  in such a way that crown  54  is immobilized in translation parallel to axis X 1  in the two directions, i.e. in the same direction as force E 3  and in the inverse direction. In this position presented in  FIG. 15 , crown  54  immobilizes tabs  537  in a configuration engaged with surface  132  of neck ring  13 . 
         [0076]    As force E 3 , which is necessary to bring crown  54  from its position of  FIG. 13  to its position of  FIG. 15 , is of weak intensity, it can be used to verify the proper assembly of device  50  on neck  12  of vial  1 . In fact, from freeze-drier  300  it is possible to subject each vial  1  to force E 3  that is calibrated, i.e. the value of which is predetermined, and then to verify that it is the position of crown  54  along axis X 1 , after application of this force. To do so, a device  400  with optical point view on top edge  542  of crown  54  in the direction of arrow F 2  in  FIG. 15 , which makes it possible to determine the position of this crown along axis X 1 . This position must be comprised in a predetermined slot that corresponds to the reception of spouts  5374  in groove  5464 . The slot in the direction of arrow F 2  allows to determine if crown  54  has efficiently reached its second position. 
         [0077]    If such is not the case, vial  1  is identified as presenting a defect in the measure where stopping device  50  is not correctly mounted on vial  1 . This vial  1  is thus eliminated from the chain of production. In other words, force E 3  has a double function: it allows to bring all devices  50 , which equip vials  1  from freeze-drier  300  in the configuration of  FIG. 15  or crown  54  is immobilized axially in relation to vial  1  and maintains tabs  537  in locking configuration; this force also allows to verify the proper assembly and proper mounting of device  50 . In fact, in case of a bad assembly, this force is not sufficient to bring cap  54  in the configuration of  FIG. 15 , which is detected by device  400 . 
         [0078]    In the configuration of  FIG. 15 , external edge  563  of lid  56  is accessible laterally, in the direction of arrow F 3 , through notch  543  of crown  54 . 
         [0079]    This allows to exercise a wrenching force E 4  of lid  56  in relation to ring  53 , to access opening  532  and, through the latter, to the top surface  511  of stopper  51 . 
         [0080]    A radial clearance J is defined between edge  564  of lid  56  and the part of surface  5465  of skirt  544  which is located in proximity to this edge in this configuration. This clearance J allows force E 4  to effectively detach stopper  56  from ring  53  by breaking up the welded points that results in the merger of platforms  563  and by extracting skirt  562  from opening  532 . Clearance J is arranged on the main part of the periphery of lid  56 , between this lid and edge  542 . Alternatively, it can only be arranged in the vicinity of the zone of skirt  544  opposite notch  543  since it is in the vicinity of this zone that lid  56  must move forward laterally towards the left side in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0081]    We notice in  FIGS. 8 to 10  that, to the extent where tabs  537  extend from edge  534  and in the direction of part  531  within windows  536 , they do not risk getting tangled with the tabs of pre-assembled cap  52 , i.e. mounted in the configuration of  FIG. 8  which forms progress in relation to the case where the tabs extend towards the bottom starting from the edge of a ring. 
         [0082]    The invention has been described in the case where surface  5465  is cylindrical while surface  5466  is in the shape of a truncated cone. Alternatively, surface  5466  can be cylindrical with a circular base. According to another variable, surface  5466  can also be slightly in the shape of truncated cone with a clearance angle of a few degrees, less than 4° that aims at facilitating the release of crown  54 . 
         [0083]    The constituent elements of cap  52  can be molded in polyoxymethylene (POM) or in an equivalent type of material. 
         [0084]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0