Adjustable needle filling and laser sealing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An assembly comprising:
- a support and drive assembly including at least one first support and at least one second support laterally spaced relative to said at least one first support;
a first structure in operable communication with and supported between said at least one first and at least one second supports of said support and drive assembly, wherein said first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies;
a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly including a laser optic device that transmits a laser beam to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one needle assembly; and
a drive unit in operable communication with at least one of said first and second supports for driving said at least one needle assembly between penetrating and non-penetrating positions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly includes a support and drive assembly, a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is in operable communication with and supported by the support and drive assembly. The first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies. The second structure is supported by the support and drive assembly. The second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies. A method includes determining a number of vials that are to be filled concurrently and adjusting an assembly to include at least one needle assembly and at least one seal assembly. A number of the needle assemblies and the seal assemblies equals the number of vials.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An assembly comprising:
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a support and drive assembly including at least one first support and at least one second support laterally spaced relative to said at least one first support; a first structure in operable communication with and supported between said at least one first and at least one second supports of said support and drive assembly, wherein said first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies; a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly including a laser optic device that transmits a laser beam to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one needle assembly; and a drive unit in operable communication with at least one of said first and second supports for driving said at least one needle assembly between penetrating and non-penetrating positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An assembly comprising:
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a support and drive assembly including a pair of stands, said pair of stands each having a base and a support column extending from said base, wherein each base includes a drive shaft, and each drive shaft is in operable communication with a drive unit; a first structure in operable communication with and supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies; and a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly, is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies, and each seal assembly includes a laser optic device that transmits a laser beam to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one needle assembly; wherein said needle assembly is in operable communication with said drive unit, and said first structure and said second structure are received between said pair of stands.
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20. An assembly comprising:
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a support and drive assembly including first means for supporting and second means for supporting laterally spaced relative to said first means for supporting; a first structure in operable communication with and supported between said first and second means for supporting of said support and drive assembly, wherein said first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies; a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly including a laser optic device that transmits a laser beam to seal at least one aperture created by said plurality of needle assemblies; third means, in operable communication with at least one of said first and second means for supporting, for driving said at least one needle assembly between penetrating and non-penetrating positions; fourth means for releasably retaining said plurality of needle assemblies with each other; and fifth means for releasably retaining said plurality of seal assemblies with each other. - View Dependent Claims (21, 23, 24)
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22. An assembly comprising:
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a support and drive assembly including a pair of stands; a first structure in operable communication with and supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies; and a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies, and each seal assembly includes a laser optic device that transmits a laser beam to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one needle assembly; wherein at least one of said stands is movable in a lateral direction relative to the other to allow for (i) the insertion of at least one of (a) one or more additional needle assemblies and (b) one or more additional seal assemblies and (ii) the removal of at least one of (a) one or more needle assemblies and (b) one or more seal assemblies.
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Specification