GB1079874A - Device for containing a plurality of vials or like-shaped objects and method and apparatus for producing and charging the same - Google Patents

Abstract

1,079,874. Sheet forming. ITALMEC ALTO MILANESE S.p.A., and FARMOGRAFICA S.p.A. April 12, 1965 [June 3, 1964; March 5, 1965], No. 15441/65. Heading B5A. [Also in Division B8] A thermoplastic container 1, Fig. 1, comprises a plurality of small troughs 2, communicating with a common recess 5, in which small bottles, vials &c. are packaged, the container being closed by a flat plastics sheet 7<SP>1</SP> welded to the periphery of the container. The container is made in an apparatus in which a web 11, Fig. 1<SP>1</SP>, is heated and then moulded to produce a series of containers 1 which are filled and closed by applying a further web 28, the two webs being welded together and trimmed. In the embodiment, a plastics web 11, Fig. 1<SP>1</SP>, is fed intermittently by water-cooled clamps 15 through a cleaning and flattening station, where it passes between felt pads 17 and rollers 18, and then through a heating oven (54), Fig. 4 (not shown), comprising a combination of infra-red radiant heaters (53), Fig. 2 (not shown), and warm or cold air injectors (52). A water-cooled screen (not shown) can be partially or totally inserted in the oven to control the extent of the web which is heated or, if necessary, to completely insulate the web from the oven. The web next passes an air-cooled screen (55) into the moulding zone where the containers are formed by vacuum, or compressed air. Vials, fed from one or more adjustably inclined hoppers 45, 46, are then supplied to the formed containers. A detector 26, situated before the hoppers, detects the presence or absence of the moulded web and, in its absence, causes a screen to be inserted across the bottom of the hopper. A covering web 28, fed from a reel 29, is then welded to the filled containers between heated welding jaws (72), (75), Fig. 6 (not shown), of the welding station 49 which are laterally adjustable so that different widths of containers can be made. The jaws may be covered with a film which prevents adhesion between the jaws and the molten plastics. Finally, the closed containers are fed through a lateral trimming station 47, in which adjustably spaced knives (81), (82), Fig. 7 (not shown), perform the trimming, the containers being held taught laterally by clamps 42. These clamps 42 then release the containers which are then gripped by grippers 47 and taken through a transverse cutting station which trims and separates the containers, knives 34, co-operating with knives 35 performing this action. The finished containers are then discharged through shoot 37.