DEVICES FOR CAPPING VIALS USEFUL IN SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS

• US 20080168751A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Michelli, Rich D., Young, Demetris P., Guthrie, Charles H., Sink, John Richard, Moran, Joseph C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/490
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20

Abstract

A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.

Claims

1. A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container, comprising:

positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position;

positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and

relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the closure comprises positioning the closure on a stage, and wherein the step of positioning the cylindrical container comprises positioning the container on the stage.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of relatively rotating the closure and the container comprises rotating the stage and the container while maintaining the closure substantially stationary.

4. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of positioning the closure further comprises depositing the closure within a confined region on the stage and urging the closure within the confined region to the first position.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the step of urging the closure comprises rotating a plurality of clamps with arcuate edges into contact with the closure, each of the clamps being rotated about a respective clamp axis of rotation that is parallel to and offset from the axis that is normal to the closure.

6. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of translating the closure comprises capturing the substantially centered closure on the stage and raising the substantially centered closure from the stage with an elevator.

7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the capturing step comprises applying suction to the closure.

8. The method defined in claim 7, further comprising the step of maintaining suction on the closure after the step of translating the closure to a third position.

9. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of positioning the container further comprises depositing the container within a confined region on the stage and urging the container within the confined region to the substantially central position.

10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the step of urging the container comprises rotating a plurality of clamps with arcuate edges into contact with the container, each of the clamps being rotated about a respective clamp axis of rotation that is parallel to and offset from the axis that is normal to the closure.

11. The method defined in claim 2, wherein further comprising the step of receiving the closure on the stage from a chute that exits into the main stage.

12. An apparatus for securing a closure on a cylindrical container, the apparatus comprising:

a centering assembly having a main stage, the main stage including a receiving region for separately receiving a closure and a container, the main stage further comprising centering members that are configured to substantially center the closure and the container sequentially along a first axis generally normal to the stage;

an elevator positioned such that a lifting member thereof is disposed over the main stage, the elevator including a capturing member that is configured to capture a closure, the elevator being configured to move between a lowered position, in which the elevator can capture the closure from the main stage, a raised position, in which a container can be received on the main stage below the captured closure, and an intermediate securing position, in which the closure is lowered to be adjacent an upper edge of the container.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the main stage and the elevator are configured to rotate relative to each other about the first axis, such that a closure captured with the capturing member can be rotatably secured to a container positioned on the main stage when the elevator is in the securing position.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the centering members comprise a plurality of clamps, each clamp being rotatably attached to the main stage for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to and radially outward from the first axis.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein each of the clamps includes an arcuate contact edge.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein the arcuate contact edge includes multiple sets of gripping teeth.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein the main stage is configured to rotate about the first axis.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the centering assembly includes a central sun gear that rotates with the main stage about the first axis, and wherein each of the clamps is connected to and rotatable with a respective clamp gear, each of the clamp gears engaging and being driven by the sun gear.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18, wherein the sun gear is coupled to a drive unit via a clutch.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein the clutch is configured such that, when the centering members are free to rotate relative to the main stage, the clutch engages the sun gear, such that sun gear remains stationary and the clamp gears rotate relative to the main stage, and wherein when the centering members are prevented from rotating, the sun gear rotates with the main stage.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the capturing member comprises a suction cup, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a suction source that selectively applies suction to the suction cup.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the centering assembly includes an upper stage positioned above the main stage, the upper stage including an aperture sized to receive a closure and a container.

23. The apparatus defined in claim 22, wherein the upper stage has sloping surfaces that drain into the aperture of the upper stage.

24. The apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein a shield resides above each clamp and rotates about its respective clamp axis, an edge of the shield overlapping the arcuate edge of the clamp.

25. The apparatus defined in claim 22, wherein each of the shields is magnetically attracted to its respective clamp, such that the shield rotates with the clamp until the shield edge strikes an object and experiences a force above a predetermined magnitude, at which point the shield counter-rotates relative to the clamp.

26. A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container, comprising:

positioning a closure in a first position on a positioning stage, the closure being substantially centered via centering members of a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position;

positioning a cylindrical container on the positioning stage, the container being substantially centered via the centering members of the centering assembly along the axis;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and

relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container.

27. An apparatus for centering an object, comprising:

a main stage;

a plurality of centering members pivotally interconnected with the main stage, each of the centering members being rotatable about a respective axis of rotation, the axes of rotation being substantially parallel with each other, wherein rotation of the centering members about their respective axes of rotation causes the centering members to contact an object positioned on the main stage, such that contact with each of the centering members centers the object on the stage;

a shield overlying at least one of the centering members, the shield being pivotable about the axis of rotation of the underlying centering member relative to the main stage and relative to the centering member, the shield having a contact edge that overhangs an edge of the centering member;

wherein the shield is configured to rotate with the centering member when no force above a predetermined level is applied to the contact edge of the shield, and wherein the shield is configured to rotate relative to the centering member when a force above a predetermined level is applied to the contact edge of the shield.

28. The apparatus defined in claim 27, wherein the shield is magnetically coupled to the centering member such that magnetic attraction causes the shield to rotate with the centering member when no force above the predetermined level is applied to the contact edge.

29. The apparatus defined in claim 27, wherein the magnetic coupling of the shield and the centering member is such that application of a force above the predetermined level to the contact edge of the shield causes the shield to rotate relative to the centering member.

30. An apparatus for centering and gripping an object, comprising:

a main stage rotable via a drive unit about a first axis of rotation;

a plurality of centering members pivotally interconnected with the main stage, each of the centering members being rotatable about a respective axis of rotation, the axes of rotation being substantially parallel with each other, wherein rotation of the centering members about their respective axes of rotation causes the centering members to contact an object positioned on the main stage, and wherein contact with each of the centering members indicates that the object is centered on the stage;

wherein the centering assembly includes a central sun gear that rotates with the main stage about the first axis, and wherein each of the centering members is connected to and rotatable with a respective centering member gear, each of the centering member gears engaging and being driven by the sun gear; and

wherein the sun gear is coupled to a drive unit via a clutch; and

wherein the clutch is configured such that, when the centering members are free to rotate relative to the main stage, the clutch engages the sun gear, such that sun gear remains stationary and the centering member gears rotate relative to the main stage, and wherein when the centering members are prevented from rotating, the sun gear rotates with the main stage.

31. A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container, comprising:

positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position;

positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis;

translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and

relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container, wherein rotating the container comprises gripping the container with a plurality of centering members, each of the centering members being rotatable about a respective axis of rotation, and

wherein the closure and centering members are configured such that, when each of the centering members is in contact with the container, an angle defined between each of the respective axes of rotation, a contact point between the contact member and the container, and the axis normal to the closure is between about 140 and 178 degrees.