Pharmaceutical product protection method and apparatus
US6775957B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B61/22
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydrophobic, compressible, resilient filler for keeping pills from movement in a container during handling is provided in the form of a tube that is cut to a desired length and axially compressed in horizontal orientation. The tube is compressed and inserted through the neck portion of the container and allowed to expand to become entrapped within the container so as to apply pressure to keep the pills from movement or damage. An apparatus and method is disclosed for extending a desired length of filler in flattened tubular form from a large supply, to cut the length of tube from the supply, to reconfigure the cross-sectional shape of the filler tube, to axially compress the rounded tube, and to insert the axially compressed filler into a container that is aligned with the insertion ram.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.