US5339595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Head for apparatus for filling a container and placing a stopper therein
Assignee: Hospira Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-31
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Granted: 1994-08-23
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Expires: 2012-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved head is provided for an apparatus which places a stopper in the opening of a filled container. The head has a sleeve which includes an inflatable bladder for receiving the end of the filled container and for temporarily sealing the periphery of the container around the opening. A housing is disposed over the sleeve. The housing has a top surface and defines an access passage which communicates between the top surface and the inside of the sleeve. The stopper is subsequently inserted into the container through the access passage. The housing defines a chamber around the access passage, and the chamber communicates with the access passage. A conduit projects from the housing top surface in communication with the chamber, and vacuum can be drawn through the conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel H. Rouse
- 👤 Thomas D. McClure
- 👤 Ralph E. Reese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:37
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/28; B65B7/2821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An improved head for an apparatus which places a stopper in the opening of a filled container, said head comprising: a sleeve for receiving the end of said container and temporarily sealing the periphery of said container around said opening; a housing over said sleeve, said housing defining an access passage which communicates with said sleeve and through which said stopper can be inserted, said housing defining a chamber around said access passage for communicating with the access passage and wherein said housing has a generally hollow, cylindrical configuration defining a generally cylindrical, exterior side surface; and a conduit projecting from said housing in communication with said chamber through which vacuum can be drawn and wherein said conduit is a hollow, cylindrical tube mounted to said housing radially inward of said housing side surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An improved head for an apparatus which places a stopper in the opening of a filled container, said head comprising: a sleeve for receiving the end of said container and temporarily sealing the periphery of said container around said opening; a housing over said sleeve, said housing defining an access passage which communicates with said sleeve and through which said stopper can be inserted, said housing defining a chamber around said access passage for communicating with the access passage and wherein said housing has a generally hollow, cylindrical configuration defining a generally cylindrical, exterior side surface; and a conduit projecting from said housing in communication with said chamber through which vacuum can be drawn and wherein said conduit is a hollow, cylindrical tube mounted to said housing radially inward of said housing side surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The head in accordance with claim 1 in which said sleeve is a resilient bladder which has a generally annular configuration and which can be expanded by inflation with a pressurized gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The head in accordance with claim 1 in which said conduit is a metal tube having an upper, open end for being engaged by a resilient hose which can be inserted over said tube open end and which can be connected to a source of reduced pressure on said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The head in accordance with claim 1 in which said chamber includes an annular cavity around said access passage and at least one passage extending from said annular cavity to the top of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
An improved head for an apparatus which places a stopper in the opening of a filled container, said head comprising: a housing having a top surface and defining an access passage extending from said top surface through said housing, said housing further including a chamber around said access passage for communicating with the access passage and wherein the top surface is a generally planar surface having an annular configuration defining an end of said access passage; a sleeve adjacent said housing defining an aperture aligned with said access passage for receiving the end of said container and temporarily sealing the periphery of said container around said opening below said access passage to accommodate insertion of said stopper through said access passage; and a conduit projecting from said top surface in communication with said chamber through which vacuum can be drawn, wherein said conduit is a generally cylindrical tube welded to said top surface in an orientation generally perpendicular to said top surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
An improved head for an apparatus which places a stopper in the opening of a filled container, said head comprising: a housing having a top surface and defining an access passage extending from said top surface through said housing, said housing further including a chamber around said access passage for communicating with the access passage and wherein the top surface is a generally planar surface having an annular configuration defining an end of said access passage; a sleeve adjacent said housing defining an aperture aligned with said access passage for receiving the end of said container and temporarily sealing the periphery of said container around said opening below said access passage to accommodate insertion of said stopper through said access passage; and a conduit projecting from said top surface in communication with said chamber through which vacuum can be drawn, wherein said conduit is a generally cylindrical tube welded to said top surface in an orientation generally perpendicular to said top surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The head in accordance with claim 5 in which said conduit is a metal tube having an upper, open end and having a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel, annular grooves defined in the exterior of said tube for being engaged by a resilient hose which can be inserted over said tube open end and which can be connected to a source of reduced pressure on said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The head in accordance with claim 5 in which said housing has a generally hollow, cylindrical configuration defining a generally cylindrical, exterior, side surface; and said conduit is a hollow, cylindrical tube mounted to said housing radially inwardly of said housing side surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The head in accordance with claim 5 in which said sleeve is a resilient bladder which has a generally annular configuration and which can be expanded by inflation with a pressurized gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The head in accordance with claim 5 in which said chamber includes an annular cavity around said access passage and at least one passage extending from said annular cavity to the top of said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2319234A
Cited
US2625312A
Cited
US2714980A
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US2795246A
Cited
US3169355A
Cited
US4995222A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-02-21 | 1998-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-22 | 2002-02-21 | 2002-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-22 | 2006-02-21 | 2006-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |