A CONTAINER AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING A PRODUCT TO A CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (100) having an aperture (140) and a seal assembly (200), comprising a support member or disc (210) and a seal such as an induction seal (240). The support disc (210) has projections or cam surfaces (230) which engage with projections or cams (160) provided on the internal surface of the neck (120). The container is configured to have an intermediate configuration prior to containing a product, in which the container aperture is temporarily closed by the seal assembly (200). In this configuration, the internal cleanliness of the container is preserved. The seal assembly can be removed to add the product, and afterwards, the seal is made more permanent by applying induction energy to the seal and the container adopts a filled configuration containing the product in which the container aperture is sealed. In this configuration, the container may be sealed by the seal assembly (200) (i.e. the support member (210) and the seal (240) or by the seal (240) alone, the support member having been removed during the sealing process.

Claims

1. A container for containing a product, comprising a container body having an aperture and a seal assembly, the seal assembly comprising a seal and a seal support member, wherein the container is configured to have an intermediate configuration prior to containing the product in which the container aperture is closed by the seal assembly, the seal assembly being removable from the container to open the container aperture for filling with the product, wherein the container is configured to have a filled configuration containing the product in which the container aperture is sealed by the seal alone, without the seal support member present, and wherein the seal support member and seal are attached by means of a bond in the intermediate configuration, the bond being breakable to allow separation of the seal support member and seal to adopt the filled configuration.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein a shoulder is provided on the container body around the periphery of the aperture, the seal contacting the shoulder in both configurations.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal is held in place by the seal support member in the intermediate configuration.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal support member is configured to be movable into an interference fit with the container body to hold the seal in place in the intermediate configuration.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the seal support member is provided with projections which, when the seal support member is rotated, engage with corresponding surfaces provided on the container body to provide the interference fit.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the surfaces project inwardly from the internal periphery of the aperture.

7. The container of claim 2, wherein the surfaces are provided adjacent to the shoulder.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal support member is a disc.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal and the seal support member are coterminous.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal and the seal support member are coextensive.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal is coextensive with the aperture or has a larger area than the area of the aperture.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the container aperture is substantially circular and wherein the seal is a disc.

13-18. (canceled)

19. The container of claim 1, wherein the bond is breakable by heating.

20. The container of claim 1, wherein the container aperture is sealed in the filled configuration by heating the seal.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the heating of the seal simultaneously heats the bond holding the seal support member and seal together to permit separation.

22. The container of claim 1, wherein the seal is an induction seal and the container aperture is sealed in the filled configuration by applying electromagnetic energy to heat the seal.

23. The container of claim 1, wherein the container further includes a cap.

24. A method comprising the steps of: providing the container comprising a container body having an aperture and a seal assembly, the seal assembly comprising a seal and a seal support member, the seal assembly being removable from the container to open the container aperture for filling with a product, the container being in an intermediate configuration in which the container aperture is closed by the seal assembly; removing the seal assembly to open the container; adding the product to the interior of the container; replacing the seal assembly; and separating the seal support member from the seal and applying energy to create a seal between the seal and the container so that the container adopts the filled configuration sealed by the seal alone without the seal support member present, wherein the seal support member and seal are attached by means of a bond in the intermediate configuration, the bond being breakable to allow separation of the seal support member and seal to adopt the filled configuration.

25-27. (canceled)

28. The method of claim 2, wherein the bond is breakable by heating.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of applying energy comprises heating the seal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of heating the seal simultaneously heats the bond holding the seal support member and seal together to permit separation.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the seal is an induction seal and the step of applying energy comprises applying electromagnetic energy to heat the seal.

32-40. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] FIGS. 1-3 show a container and filling apparatus in accordance with the invention in which the container is fitted with a seal assembly, prior to filling (FIG. 1B is an enlargement of FIG. 1A);

[0045] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the container and filling apparatus in which the container is being opened prior to filling;

[0046] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the container and filling apparatus in which the seal assembly is separated from the container and the container is filled;

[0047] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the container and filling apparatus in which the seal assembly is replaced on the filled container;

[0048] FIGS. 10 to 12 show the container and sealing apparatus in which the support member is unlocked and electromagnetic energy is applied to the seal assembly; and

[0049] FIG. 13 shows the container and filling apparatus in which the support member is separated from the container leaving the seal in place on the container.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a container 100, seal assembly 200 and filling apparatus 300 are shown in which the container is fitted with a seal assembly, prior to filling. Container 100 is shown, in the form of a bottle typically used for containing a product such as a pharmaceutical. Container 100 has a generally cylindrical body 110 closed at the base. The container has a neck 120 with an external screw thread 130. Internally, the neck defines an aperture 140 for filling and removing the product. The internal surface of the neck 120 is provided with a lip 150 for seating and sealing with the seal, and a plurality of projections or cams 160 which cooperate with cams on the support disc as described below.

[0051] Seal assembly 200 comprises a support member in the form of a support disc 210 which has a plurality of apertures or recesses 220 for receiving pins during handling and rotation. Support disc 210 also has a plurality of projections or cams 230 which cooperate with the projections/cams 160 on the container (see FIG. 1B; cams 230 are not visible in FIG. 2).

[0052] Seal assembly 200 also comprises a seal 240 in the form of a foil induction seal. Such seals typically comprise a foil layer with a polymer coating on the underside which, when the foil is heated by induction, melts and forms a bond with the polymer of the container to create the seal. Above the foil layer, there is typically provided a backing layer such as paper and an adhesive such as wax which attaches the backing layer to the foil. The wax also melts when the foil is heated by induction, so the backing layer can be separated from the foil once the seal has been created.

[0053] The seal assembly is fitted to the container by placing the seal 240 in contact with the lip 150 and rotating the seal assembly relative to the container (e.g. by rotating the seal assembly or by rotating the container) so that the projections 230 on the support disc 210 engage with the projections 160 on the container. The seal 240 is not inductively sealed to the container however. In this configuration, the container is sufficiently securely closed by the seal assembly, which is locked in position, so that it can be transported, in an environment with reduced cleanliness if necessary, while preserving the contamination-free status of the interior space of the container.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows filling apparatus 300. The skilled person will be aware of the required technical features of a typical filling apparatus, and only the basic apparatus features as they relate to the invention will be described. Filling apparatus 300 comprises a piston 310 which is provided with pins 320 for cooperating with the apertures or recesses 220 on the support disc 210. The piston 310 and pins 320 are configured to hold and rotate the support disc 210. In addition to being rotatable by means of the piston 310, the pins 320 are supplied with a vacuum through bores 321 for holding the seal assembly. In an alternative embodiment, support disc 210 can be held in position by pins 320 and the container 100 rotated. Correct engagement of the pins 320 with the recesses 220 may be determined by sensing the relative vertical positions of the pins/piston or container 100.

[0055] The piston 310 moves relative to a sleeve 330 which defines a bore 340 for the piston to move in. An aperture 350 is provided at the end of the bore which is configured to seal with the top of the container neck 120 during the filling process. A product supply chute 360 is provided for supplying the product to the bore 340 and then into the container 100.

[0056] In FIG. 3, the container, closed by the seal assembly in a temporary but secure manner, is shown as having arrived at the filling apparatus and about to be engaged with the aperture 350 for filling.

[0057] Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the next stage of the filling process is shown. Support disc 210 is engaged by pins 320 which rotate the disc relative to the container 100 to disengage the projections 160 and 230 from one another and permit the support disc 210 to be lifted away. In an alternative embodiment, support disc 210 can be held in position by pins 320 and the container 100 rotated.

[0058] In FIGS. 6 and 7, the seal assembly 200 has been lifted away by the piston 310 by means of a vacuum supplied through the pins 320, and the container 100 is filled with product P via chute 360.

[0059] In FIGS. 8 and 9, the seal assembly 200 is shown having been replaced on the container and locked in position by rotating the seal assembly 200/support disc 210 (or by rotating container 100) to re-engage projections 160 and 230. In this configuration, it is possible to transport the filled container to another filling apparatus for additional product to be added if desired, in the same manner as described above.

[0060] FIGS. 10 to 12 show the stage of applying electromagnetic energy to the induction seal to create a final, more permanent seal so that the container can be shipped to the consumer. FIG. 11 shows a sealing apparatus 400 which includes pins 410 to unlock the support disc by rotating it relative to the container and to apply pressure to the seal while an induction coil 420 applies electromagnetic energy to the foil layer. FIG. 12 shows the support disc in the unlocked position, with projections 160 and 230 visible.

[0061] FIG. 13 shows the final stage of removing the support disc 210 and backing paper by means of disc removal apparatus 500, leaving the foil seal 240 sealed to the container neck.