Patent US3757622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3757622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for opening containers in a sterile environment
Assignee: EP Remy et Cie SARL
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Filing: 1971-10-12
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-10-12
Abstract
Abstract Device for opening sealingly closed and internally sterile containers, by cutting a portion of the material of said containers, comprising an enclosure isolated from the ambient atmosphere, means for driving the said containers continuously within the said enclosure, a stationary cutting member placed in the path of said containers, so that the portion thus cut meets the said cutting member, means for discharging the portion thus cut from the said enclosure, and sealing means associated with the said driving means and discharge means, to preclude any communication between the enclosure and the exterior.
Inventors
- 👤 J Berry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:20
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/42; B29C49/72; B29C49/74; B65; B65B; B65B31/00; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B55/04; B65B69/00; B65B69/0033; B67; B67B; B67B7/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/2209; Y10T83/2216; Y10T83/222; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/654; Y10T83/6545; Y10T83/6547; Y10T83/6548; Y10T83/6555; Y10T83/6667; Y10T83/95
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A device for opening sealingly closed and internally sterile containers, such as plastic bottles or the like, having a lower portion and an upper neck portion having a top collar portion, by severing the said collar portion, comprising an enclosure having a bottom wall, said enclosure being isolated from the ambient atmosphere and being adapted to receive said container, means located within said enclosure for driving said containers continuously along a predetermined path, said means comprising a first rotary substantially circular star member adapted to receive said containers and move them in a rotary path and a second rotary, substantially circular star member arranged in tangential relationship to said first star member, means for continuously driving said star members in synchronism in mutually opposite directions of rotation, said star members being provided with complementary slots adapted to receive said containers and grip them closely when said slots are in confronting relationship with one another, a stationary cutting member located within said enclosure and arranged in immediate proximity to tangential position of the said star members, so that said portion to be severed meets said cutting member and is cut off thereby, means for discharging the portion thus cut off from the said enclosure, and sealing means associated with said driving means and said discharge means, to preclude any communication between said enclosure and said ambient atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A device for opening sealingly closed and internally sterile containers, such as plastic bottles or the like, having a lower portion and an upper neck portion having a top collar portion, by severing the said collar portion, comprising an enclosure having a bottom wall, said enclosure being isolated from the ambient atmosphere and being adapted to receive said container, means located within said enclosure for driving said containers continuously along a predetermined path, said means comprising a first rotary substantially circular star member adapted to receive said containers and move them in a rotary path and a second rotary, substantially circular star member arranged in tangential relationship to said first star member, means for continuously driving said star members in synchronism in mutually opposite directions of rotation, said star members being provided with complementary slots adapted to receive said containers and grip them closely when said slots are in confronting relationship with one another, a stationary cutting member located within said enclosure and arranged in immediate proximity to tangential position of the said star members, so that said portion to be severed meets said cutting member and is cut off thereby, means for discharging the portion thus cut off from the said enclosure, and sealing means associated with said driving means and said discharge means, to preclude any communication between said enclosure and said ambient atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein said means for discharging said cut-off portions comprise a funnel-shaped member arranged below said cutting member, a discharge conduit connected with said member and made at least partially of a transparent material and passing through said bottom wall, said conduit having a lower end, and a vat, filled with a liquid in which said lower end is immersed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
Device according to claim, 1 wherein each one of said star members comprises at least two upper and lower plates each having peripheral edges which are generally circular in shape, a common shaft on which said upper and lower plates are secured, the two upper plates of said star members being located substantially in the same horizontal plane and arranged in tangential relationship to one another, both upper plates being provided with slots, the shape and dimensions of which correspond to the shape and dimensions of said upper portions of said containers, and the two lower plates of said star members, being provided with slots the shape and dimensions of which correspond to the shape and dimensions of said lower portions of said containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Device according to claim 3, wherein each of the said upper plates is provided with a groove on its said peripheral edge, the said grooves being arranged in confronting relationship so as to permit the engagement of the said cutting member between the said plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
Device according to claim 3, including a circular base-plate having a lower portion for each star member, each said base plate being secured to a said common shaft and forming a portion of a bottom wall for said device, said base plate comprising at said lower portion a peripheral side wall and a stationary annular channel arranged under said bottom wall in which said side wall is engaged along the junction between said channel and said base plate, said channel being filled with a liquid in which said side wall is immersed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
Device according to claim 5 wherein the diametEr of the circular base plate of a first of said star members is substantially greater than that of its superposed plates, so as to engage lower portions of containers and drive the latter along a rotary path of motion and stationary guiding means of generally circular shape and concentric with said last-named star member to guide said containers during their said motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 3, including base plates for each said star member, and driving shafts extending in prolongation of respective of said common shafts to support said star members, said driving shafts being arranged below respective of said base plates and having pinions meshing with one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
Device according to claim 4, wherein said cutting member comprises an adjustable blade having a front portion and arranged substantially horizontally, at the level of said grooves in said upper plates, said blade being provided, at said front portion, with a substantially V-shaped cutting edge whose tip is located in proximity to the tangential position of said upper plates, so that each container meets said cutting edge, which perforates it with said tip and then cuts it as the motion of said container proceeds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Device according to claim 8 including a stationary support on which said blade is mounted, and adjusting means serving for varying the angular positioning and vertical positioning of said blade with respect to said support and the positioning of said blade with respect to the tangential position of said upper plates.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |