KR19980071816A - System and method for mechanically sealing container openings - Google Patents

Abstract

The lid or plug according to the present invention interacts with a hole in a pouch or container and with a rigid ring disposed inside the container hole to provide a hermetic seal of the hole. The mechanical plug is snapped into the container hole by pressing both the outer surface of the hole and the inner surface of the ring disposed inside the container hole. The radial edge of the inner side of the mechanical plug has an arced annular indentation extending around the plug, the radial edge of the plug being configured to surround the periphery of the container hole. In addition, two or more legs extending perpendicular to the inner side of the mechanical plug and engaging with the engaging portion of the bottom face / radial groove of the rigid ring are attached to the inner side of the mechanical plug. Each of the outer surface of the neck of the container hole and the inner surface of the annular indentation of the mechanical plug has one or more protrusions, which ensure the airtightness of the seal for a long time by allowing the container material displaced by pressing to be received in a defined area. give. The lower surface of the mechanical plug is inclined downward in the direction of the center line and is attached between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug by attaching the plunger into the liquid contents of the container with respect to the center line before the mechanical plug is snapped into the container hole. It substantially reduces any residual air bubbles that may have been trapped and allows air free filling of the vessel without vacuum.

Description

System and method for mechanically sealing container openings

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for mechanically covering the pores of a pouch or container, and more particularly to systems and methods for using a combination of plug and annular ring mechanisms to cover the holes of a pouch or a container.

In general, the operation of filling a pouch or container with liquid contents and sealing the contents securely can be carried out by one of the following two methods. One method is to fill a pouch or container with an opening into which the liquid contents enter, and then seal the hole, and the other method is to fill the sealed pouch or container with the liquid inlet needle and then to the hole point. To seal. Both methods require the application of external sealing agents, the efficacy of which can affect the material properties of the container. In order to form a tight seal, the material properties of the container are generally constant, but if they vary, this property affects the tightness of the seal.

One alternative is then to use a plug or lid shaped to mechanically interact with the openings of the pouch or container to form a rigid seal. The main difficulty with this alternative is that the allowable mechanical tolerances of the interacting parts are too small to achieve a hermetic and substantial hermetic seal. In addition, although the interactive parts initially form a hermetic seal, the interactive parts under pressure tend to experience creep, ie deformation of the material, over time. Therefore, the creep phenomenon tends to reduce the airtightness of the seal. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanical closure system that achieves and maintains a welded seal of a pouch or container over a significant period of time.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system that achieves substantial welded sealing of pouches or containers with holes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of mechanically sealing a pouch or container with holes to achieve an airtight, substantially welded seal.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system in a pouch or container with a hole, the mechanical closure system of correcting deformation of the interactive parts of the mechanical closure system and the interactive parts of the pouch or container. To provide.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a mechanical seal in a pouch or container and a mechanical seal that compensates for deformation of the interactive components of the pouch or container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system that makes an airtight pouch or container hermetic and substantially welded and does not require too small tolerances in the interactive parts.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to mechanically seal a pouch or container having an opening with a mechanical closure system, and that too small tolerances are not required for the interactive parts of the mechanical closure system to achieve a hermetically sealed weld. Does not provide a way.

Still another object of the present invention is to fill a container by mechanically sealing the pouch or the hole of the container after the liquid has flowed into the container, and eliminating the need to create a vacuum to fill the container. It is to provide a method of substantially reducing the cost of a mechanical system.

Another object of the present invention is to mechanically seal the opening of a liquid container or pouch, to allow the container material to be deformed transversely and longitudinally without disturbing, thereby making the container fully compressible and in the container after the liquid has been dispensed. It is to provide a system provided with a mechanical plug that minimizes residue.

1 is an exploded view showing parts of a preferred embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention;

2 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing components of a preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the invention shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of a preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the invention shown in FIG. 1.

4 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing components of another preferred embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembly parts of the preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the invention shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

101: mechanical plug 102: rigid ring

103: container 103b: container hole

103d: neck 1011: leg

1013, 1014, 1015: protrusion 1016: indentation

1017: Plunger

According to the above object, the present invention provides a mechanical lid or plug which not only has a rigid ring disposed inside the container hole but also interacts with the pouch or the hole of the container. The mechanical plug snaps into the container bore to press both the outer side of the bore and the inner side of the ring disposed inside the bore bore, thereby forming an airtight seal of the bore.

The hole area of the container has an annular indent formed to receive the rigid ring, the rigid ring snapped into the annular indent. After the rigid ring is snapped into the annular indentation of the hole region of the container, the mechanical plug is snapped into the rigid ring around the outer edge of the container, such that the container hole is pressed between the rigid ring and the mechanical plug. The radial edges of the plugs are formed so as to surround the periphery of the vessel holes, so that the radial edges of the inner side of the mechanical plug are formed into arc-shaped regions extending around the plugs. In addition, two or more legs extending perpendicular to the lower surface of the mechanical plug are attached to the inner surface of the mechanical plug. The ends of the legs are hooked to engage the bottom / radial groove coupling of the rigid ring. The leg and annular indentation of the mechanical plug make it easy to press the rigid ring and the hole area of the container in the vertical and radial directions. In this way, a tight seal of the container openings is ensured.

In addition, each of the outer side of the hole region of the container and the inner side of the annular region of the mechanical plug has one or more protrusions or interferences. If the mechanical plug is snapped into the vessel hole, the pressurization of the vessel material thus causes a tendency for the press material to be displaced or creep into the less pressurized area. The protrusions limit the range of displacement of the pressurized container material, i.e., by keeping the container material displaced by pressurization within a defined area, ensuring a tight seal for a considerable period of time.

After the plunger has displaced (and only after) the surface level of the liquid to the upper edge of the vessel hole, the central inner surface of the mechanical plug is extended to the liquid contents of the vessel in such a way that the mechanical plug is tightly snapped into the vessel hole. The configured extensions or plungers can be mounted, thereby eliminating the vacuum conditions commonly used in air-less filling processes. In this way, the plunger substantially reduces air bubbles that may remain between the surface of the liquid and the inner side of the mechanical plug.

The mechanical closure system and method according to the present invention can be used for any application where the opening of a pouch or container needs to be hermetically sealed. For example, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention is particularly suitable for sealing medical containers or pouches containing medicaments. Since the mechanical seal system according to the present invention can achieve substantial weld seals without the use of caulking materials, glues or other outer seal materials, an expensive system using an outer sealant is unnecessary. In addition, due to the interaction of the protrusions provided on the outer side of the hole area of the container with the inner side of the annular indentation of the mechanical plug, the acceptable mechanical tolerances of the interacting parts of the mechanical plug are increased.

As shown in Figure 1, which is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanical lid or plug 101 and a rigid annular ring 102, both of which Interacts with the neck 103d near the hole 103b of the pouch or container 103 to tightly seal the hole 103b. Pouches or containers 103 may be made by one of a number of materials well known in the art, including such materials as butadiene polyethylene styrene (trade name KRATON), polyethylene, polyurethane or other plastic materials, thermoplastic elastomers Or other elastic material. As shown in FIG. 1, the container 103 may be a medicine dispensing cartridge with a nozzle 103a.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 (exploded cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention), the contour of the rigid ring 102 is the neck 103d of the container 103 near the hole 103b. Complementary to the inner contour 103c of, allows the rigid ring 102 to snap into the inner contour 103c of the neck 103d. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radial edge 101a of the mechanical plug 101 is formed into a U-shaped region extending around the plug and is provided with a rigid ring 102 and a neck ( Complete the appearance combining 103d). After the rigid ring 102 is snapped into the inner contour 103c of the neck 103d, the mechanical plug 101 is snapped into place around the container hole 103b so that the U-shaped area 101a is pouch 103 ) Is firmly engaged with the neck 103d of the neck and the inner surface of the rigid ring 102.

As shown in FIG. 2, the U-shaped region 101a of the mechanical plug 101 has protrusions 1013, 1014, 1015 and at least one indentation 1016. Similarly, the outer side of the neck 103d of the mechanical plug has protrusions 1031 and 1033, and the inner side of the neck has a protrusion 1035. The rigid ring 102 also has indentations 1021 and 1022 on each of the vertical inner surface 102a and the lower surface. The indentation 1022 of the rigid ring 102 receives the protrusion 1035 of the neck 103d so that the rigid ring is firmly engaged with the neck of the container as long as the rigid ring snaps into place. The portions 1018 of the U-shaped region 101a of the mechanical plug, as well as the projections 1013, 1014, 1015, also portions 1034, 1036 of the indentation 1021 of the rigid ring 1021 and the outer surface of the neck 103d. , 1037). In addition, the protrusions 1031 and 1033 on the outer surface of the neck 103d are also engaged with the indentation 1016 and the portion 1017 of the U-shaped region 101a of the mechanical plug.

In addition to the interlocking protrusions and indentations described above, at least two legs 1011 extending perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug as shown in FIG. 2 are attached to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug 101. Each leg 1011 has a hooked end 1012, the hooked end of which is indented 1031 at the bottom inside of the assembly where the neck 103d of the mechanical plug and the rigid ring 102 are combined. It is interlocked. Leg 1011 slides along the vertical medial side 102a of the rigid ring during assembly of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention and snaps in place at indentation 1032 relative to a portion 1038 of the neck 103d of the container. It has enough flexibility to be fastened.

The combination of the leg 1011 and the U-shaped region of the mechanical plug 101 facilitates both the rigid ring for the mechanical plug and the vertical and radial compression of the neck 103d of the container. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion 1012 of the leg 1011 interacts with a portion 1038 of the neck 103d of the container and a portion 1023 of the rigid ring, and part of the mechanical plug. 1014 and 1018 interact with portions 1034 and 1037 of the neck 103d of the container, respectively, to press the neck vertically between the mechanical plug 101 and the rigid ring 102. Similarly, portions 1013, 1015, 1017 of the U-shaped region 101a of the mechanical plug 101 interact with the protrusions 1021, 1036, 1031, respectively, so that the neck (between the mechanical plug and the rigid ring 102) 103d) is pressed in the radial direction. In this way, a substantial weld seal of the container aperture 103d is made as shown in FIG.

As can be understood from the foregoing description and in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the invention achieves two types of mechanical seals. First, the seal extending along the horizontal direction of the neck, for example the shared surface of the areas 1022 and 1035, as well as the area extending between the portions 1034 and 1037, is provided by a mechanical plug to the rigid ring 102. It is obtained by vertically pressing the neck 103d. Secondly, the seal extending along the vertical direction, for example the shared surface of the areas 1021 and 1013 as well as the area extending between the portions 1036 and 1034, is provided by the mechanical plug to the rigid ring 102. It is obtained by pressing 103d horizontally.

If the mechanical plug is snapped into the vessel bore, consequently pressurization of the vessel material tends to displace the pressurized material into the less pressurized area or cause creep. The protrusion confines the container material displaced by pressurization within a limited area, ensuring the tightness of the seal for a long time. For example, the protrusions 1014, 1015 of the mechanical plug 101 delimit the protrusion 1031 on the outer surface of the neck 103d of the container. Thus, when the protrusion 1031 material is initially pressed by the protrusions 1015, 1017, the displaced material of the protrusion 1031 is pressed toward the protrusion 1014, whereby additional movement of the displaced material is prevented. Limited and hermetic sealing is maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably the central portion of the lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 is the liquid of the container before the mechanical plug 101 is snapped into place around the vessel hole 103d. It is mounted with an extension or plunger 1017 configured to extend into the contents. The inserted plunger 1017 raises the liquid level so that air or gas bubbles can rise along the liquid level and leak through the container hole 103b which is not yet sealed by the mechanical plug 101. . In this manner, the plunger 1017 substantially reduces air bubbles that may remain between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The configuration and dimensions of the mechanical plug 101, the neck 103d and the rigid ring 102 are such that the legs 1011 and the U-shaped region 101a of the mechanical plug interact with the neck 103d and the rigid ring 102. Only by having the plunger 1017 raise the liquid level to approximately the upper edge of the neck 103d, it is defined to form an unnecessarily hermetic seal of the vacuum used in the less air filled process.

The lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 is inclined to ensure that air or gas bubbles pressurized to the surface level of the liquid by insertion of the plunger 1017 are not trapped between the lower surface of the mechanical plug and the liquid level. . The inclined surface 1019 facilitates the radial upward movement of the air bubbles leaking through the hole 103b of the container past the region between the two legs 1011.

As shown in FIG. 4, which is an exploded cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially similar to the first embodiment, and has a mechanical plug or plug 401 and rigidity. An annular ring 402, both of which interact with the neck 403d of the pouch or container 403. As in the first embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 1-3, the contour of the rigid ring 402 is complementary to the inner contour of the neck 403d of the container 403, such that the rigid ring 402 is The inner contour of the neck 403d can be snapped into place. In addition, the radial edge 401a of the mechanical plug 401 is formed into an arc-shaped region, which extends around the plug to form an outer shape in which the neck 403d and the rigid ring 402 are combined. After the rigid ring 402 is fastened to the inner contour of the neck 403d, the arc-shaped region 401a firmly engages the rigid ring 402 and the neck 403d of the pouch 403 as shown in FIG. To engage, the mechanical plug 401 is sequentially snapped into place around the container aperture 403d defined by the neck 403d.

According to the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, air or gas bubbles pressurized to the surface level of the liquid by insertion of the plunger 4017 is passed through the hole 403 of the vessel past the region between the two legs 4011. The lower surface 4019 of the mechanical plug 401 of the second embodiment is inclined or tapered in order to be oriented upwardly radially and eventually leak.

Also, similar to the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 preferably has at least two legs 4011 attached to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug 401. And each of the legs has a hooked area 4012 at its end. Hooked area 4012 is formed to engage area 4023 at the bottom surface of rigid annular ring 402. In addition, an extension or plunger 4017 is attached to the central lower surface of the mechanical plug 401, which extends the container before the mechanical plug 401 is snapped into place around the vessel hole 403d. It is formed to extend into the liquid content of the liquid, substantially reducing air bubbles that may remain between the lower surface of the mechanical plug and the surface of the liquid.

The second embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention uses fewer projections than the number of projections provided on the corresponding portions of the first embodiment on the surface of the neck 403d and the mechanical plug 401. However, the substantial weld seal of the pouch 403 is ensured by the characteristic construction of the interactive parts, ie the mechanical plug 401, the rigid ring 402 and the neck 403d. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the area 4017 and the projection 4015 of the mechanical plug interact with the area 4031 of the neck 403d, which is outside the neck 403d. The protrusion 40 formed from the regular contour of the side, and the portion 4016 of the mechanical plug interacts with the area 4022 of the rigid ring 402, thereby radially pressing the rigid ring 402 and the neck 403d. Is achieved. In addition, portions 4016 and 4012 of the mechanical plug interact with regions 4022 and 4023 of the rigid ring 402 to press the neck 403d and the rigid ring 402 vertically.

In order to ensure that the tightness of the seal is reduced so that no displacement or creep of the container material occurs around the pressing point, a mechanical seal system provides a protrusion 4015 at the radial edge of the mechanical plug 401. . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the projection 4015 causes the container material of the area 4031 displaced by pressing to form an upward channel into the space 4018 defined by the annular rigid ring 402. Thus, the protrusion 4015 and the rigid ring 402 define the displaced material of the region 4031 of the container 403, thereby maintaining a hermetic seal for a long time.

While certain preferred embodiments have been described above, other variations can be made without departing from the disclosure, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative in nature and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It should be easily understood by those skilled in the art that it should not be considered as limiting. For example, although embodiments of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention have been described as being suitably used for containers or pouches having annular apertures, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention may be of other shapes, for example square or rectangular. It may be converted into a hole.

As described above, according to the mechanical sealing system and method according to the present invention, the leg and the annular indentation of the mechanical plug can easily press the rigid ring and the hole area of the container in the vertical and radial directions, thereby ensuring the airtight of the container hole. One seal is guaranteed. In addition, by keeping the container material displaced by pressurization within a defined area, it ensures a hermetic seal for a considerable period of time. By eliminating the vacuum conditions commonly used in airless filling processes, the plunger substantially reduces air bubbles that may remain between the surface of the liquid and the inner side of the mechanical plug. Since the mechanical seal system according to the present invention can achieve substantial weld seals without the use of caulking materials, glues or other outer seal materials, an expensive system using an outer sealant is unnecessary. In addition, due to the interaction of the protrusions provided on the outer side of the hole area of the container with the inner side of the annular indentation of the mechanical plug, the acceptable mechanical tolerances of the interacting parts of the mechanical plug are increased.

Claims (17)

A system for mechanically sealing a container opening defined by a neck of a container, the system comprising: a rigid ring operatively engaging with an inner surface of a neck of the container, an outer surface of the neck of the container and an inner annular surface of the rigid ring And a mechanical plug having a leg that extends substantially perpendicularly to the bottom surface to operatively engage and simultaneously engage the bottom surface of the rigid ring. Providing a mechanical seal in the container aperture by simultaneously engaging at least a portion of the neck. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical plug and the rigid ring pressurize the neck of the container to seal against the vertical dimension of the neck. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mechanical plug and the rigid ring pressurize the neck of the container vertically to seal along the horizontal dimension of the neck. 4. The mechanical plug of claim 3 wherein the mechanical plug has an arcuate annular region at a radial edge, the inner side of the arcuate annular region having a protrusion, the protrusion limiting the displacement of material on the outer surface of the neck. And operatively interact with an outer surface of the neck. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the outer side of the neck of the container has a protrusion and the protrusion of the inner side of the arc annular region limits the displacement of the protrusion of the outer side of the neck. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug to displace the liquid contained within the vessel. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the bottom surface of the mechanical plug is inclined radially upwardly from the plunger to radially upward the displaced gas with the displaced liquid. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mechanical plug firmly engages the vessel after substantially all of the gas in the vessel is displaced out of the vessel by the plunger. 2. The mechanical plug of claim 1 wherein the mechanical plug has an arcuate annular region at a radial edge, the inner side of the arcuate annular region having a projection, the projection to limit displacement of the outer surface material of the neck. And operatively interact with an outer surface of the neck. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the outer side of the neck of the container has a protrusion and the protrusion of the inner side of the arc annular region limits the displacement of the protrusion of the outer side of the neck. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug to displace the liquid confined within the container. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the mechanical plug is inclined radially upward from the plunger to radially upward the displaced gas with the displaced liquid. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mechanical plug firmly engages the vessel after substantially all of the gas in the vessel is displaced out of the vessel by the plunger. 10. A method of mechanically sealing a container opening defined by a neck of a container, the rigid ring having a mechanical ring having a rigid ring and a leg extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface with an arced annular area at a radial edge. The outer side of the neck and the outer side of the neck have a substantially complementary shape, operatively engaging the outer side of the neck and the rigid annular ring, the arc annular area of the mechanical plug and the outer side of the neck of the container. Operably simultaneously coupling a side and an inner surface of the rigid ring, and operatively engaging a leg of the mechanical plug with a bottom surface of the rigid ring. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the inner side of the arcuate annular region has a protrusion and the step of operatively engaging the arcuate annular region of the mechanical plug with the outer side of the neck of the container comprises the outer side of the neck. Operatively coupling the protrusion of the arc-shaped annular region of the mechanical plug to the outer side of the neck to limit the displacement of the material of the plug. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing the liquid and gas confined within the container, Prior to the step of operatively simultaneously engaging the outer side of the neck, the method further comprising displacing substantially all of the gas in the vessel to the outer region of the vessel by placing the plunger into the liquid. A system for mechanically sealing a container opening defined by a neck of a container, the system comprising: a rigid ring operatively coupled to an inner surface of a neck of the container, an outer surface of the neck of the container and an inner annular surface of the rigid ring And a leg extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface to operatively engage and simultaneously engage the bottom surface of the rigid ring and substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface to displace the liquid and gas defined in the vessel. A mechanical plug with an extended plunger, said mechanical plug and said rigid ring being coupled simultaneously with at least a portion of said neck of said container to provide a mechanical seal to said container aperture, said mechanical plug being substantially all in the container. After the gas has been displaced out of the container by the plunger, And the bond system being characterized in that that facilitates air free filling of the system vessel.