APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CAPPING AND SEALING PHARMACEUTICAL VIALS

摘要

An apparatus and a method for capping and sealing a vial with a cap assembly including a deformable annular seal, e.g., a ferrule, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base for holding the vial, a pressure applying platen, plural sealing rollers and associated electronic circuitry and motors. The platen is arranged to be moved relative to the base, whereupon it engages and applies a force to the cap assembly. The load cell measures the force applied and provides a signal indicative thereof to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry determines when a desired amount of force has been applied to control the operation of the rollers, whereupon the rollers apply a force to the annular seal to permanently crimp the annular seal on the vial.

主权项

1. Apparatus for capping and sealing a vial with a cap, the vial comprising a hollow body having an opening to the interior thereof and a flanged neck surrounding the opening, the flanged neck having an undersurface, the cap comprising an elastomeric stopper arranged for disposition within the opening in the vial and an annular seal arranged to be crimped around and tightly engage the flanged neck of the vial to hold the stopper in place, said apparatus comprising a platen, a base, a load cell and at least one roller, said base being arranged to receive the vial thereon with the vial oriented so that the neck of the vial confronts said platen, at least one of said base and said platen being arranged to be moved relative to the other after the stopper is located in the opening of the vial, whereupon said platen engages and applies a force to the stopper to drive the stopper into the opening of the vial, said load cell being arranged to provide a signal indicative of the force applied to the stopper, said apparatus being arranged to halt the relative movement between said platen and said base when said signal provided by said load cell indicates the application of a desired force to the cap to thereby firmly seat the stopper within the opening in the vial, said at least one roller being arranged to apply a force to the annular seal to crimp the annular seal on the neck of the vial to hold the stopper in place within the opening in the vial and thereby seal the vial.