Devices for Capping Vials Useful in System and Method for Dispensing Prescriptions

• US 20080172987A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• 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: Rivenbark, James Robert, Young, Demetris P., Sink, John Richard, Uebel, Mark Alan, DuMond, Jody
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/308
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container, comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of blade edges mounted to the base such that each of the blade edges is exposed;

wherein the blade edges are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the blade edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the blade edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a suction cup mounted to the central portion of the base.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the blade edges are mounted such that the blade edges slope slightly downwardly as they radiate from the central portion of the base.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the blade edges slope downwardly at an angle of between about 0.5 and 30 degrees relative to horizontal.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes recesses in a lower surface thereof and wherein the blade edges are located on blades that are mounted in the recesses.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of blade edges is six blade edges.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each of the blade edges includes a leading surface, and wherein the leading surface is substantially normal to a top surface of the cap when the blade edges contact the cap.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein each of the blade edges forms an angle of between about 40 and 90 degrees.