Device for the centered placement of closures, and system comprising a device of this type

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) and to a system (56) for closing containers (15) by means of closures.

Description

[0001] Title: Device for the centered setting of closures and system with such a device

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a device for placing a closure on a container and to a system comprising such a device.

[0004] The device is used particularly in filling and closing systems for automated aseptic filling and / or filling of toxic and / or highly potent active ingredients. The system is particularly suitable for this type of system. The system can process the containers as bulk goods or process RTU (Ready-to-Use) packaging in a nest.

[0005] When containers are processed as bulk goods, the containers are fed into the system in bulk via a feeding station. From the feeding station, the containers are placed, for example, on a turntable or conveyor belt. The containers are then separated as they are transported into the system. The containers are then transported individually through the system. This also includes containers that are fed in a tray. These are first taken from the tray and then transported individually through the system. Ideally, the separated containers are transported through the system in such a way that they do not touch any other containers.

[0006] When processing nested containers, the containers are transported through the system in a nest. It is possible that the containers are removed from the nest at individual stations. This can happen, for example, at the filling station. During transport to the next station, the containers are returned to the nest.

[0007] After the containers are filled, they are sealed at the sealing station.

[0008] The containers within the meaning of the invention can be, for example, vials, carpules or syringes. Suitable closures are used for each of the containers. In the case of syringes, a plunger stopper is inserted into the syringe to close it. In the case of carpules, a plunger stopper can be inserted into the carpule or the carpule can be closed with an aluminum cap, which can, for example, include an integrated seal. The aluminum cap can be crimped or flanged to press the seal in. In the case of vials, the closure can be a plug that is inserted into the vial. The closure within the meaning of the invention can, however, also be an aluminum cap that is used to create a secure sterile seal between the vial and the plug previously inserted into the vial. Such an aluminum cap typically includes a "flip-off" made of plastic, which covers the upper area of ​​the aluminum cap and can be removed when the aluminum cap is firmly attached to the vial (e.g.The aluminum cap usually has a free area on the inside, covered by the flip-off cap. When the flip-off cap is removed, the plug underneath is accessible and can be pierced, for example, with a needle, without having to remove the plug or the aluminum cap. This allows liquid to be withdrawn with a cannula without opening the container.

[0009] A plug in this sense can be referred to as a primary closure and the aluminum cap just described as a secondary closure. The primary closure in this sense closes an opening in the container directly. The secondary closure is placed over an already placed primary closure and can, for example, secure, fix, seal, additionally secure it or similar. The closure in the sense of the present invention can be a primary closure or a secondary closure. In the case of a vial, the aluminum cap is then crimped or edged after it has been placed on the plug in order to create a firm connection. With vials, it is also possible, within the meaning of the invention, to close the vial with a so-called press-on cap. With a press-on cap, the plug is already integrated into the cap. The press-on cap is pressed onto the vial. The press-on cap is held on to the vial by means of several locking fingers and seals the vial.

[0010] For all closure and container types, precise alignment of the container and closure is advantageous. Depending on the container and closure type, however, this may be absolutely necessary to enable the closure process at all. Especially with vials with aluminum caps, very precise positioning between the vial head and the aluminum cap is sometimes required.

[0011] For vials sealed with a stopper and aluminum cap, the stopper is inserted in the first step. When processing individual vials, the stopper is usually inserted immediately after filling at a separate station. Since the stoppers usually have a beveled insertion and thus slide smoothly into the vial, the requirements for alignment accuracy are usually not too high. However, high positioning accuracy is also advantageous for this sealing process; the device according to the invention can be used for this purpose.

[0012] When processing vials in the nest, the stopper is also placed directly after filling.

[0013] After the stopper has been inserted, the aluminum cap (secondary closure) is placed on the vial with the stopper already in place (primary closure). For this purpose, the device according to the invention for placing the aluminum cap can be used in a pick-and-place process. The vial is precisely centered, and the aluminum cap is placed on top. After the aluminum cap has been placed on the vial, it is flanged or crimped.

[0014] To set the closure, it is first detected and placed in a receiving area of ​​the device. This is described in more detail below.

[0015] The device can be movable by means of a handling device or be attached to a fixed station. After the closure has been detected, the device can, for example, be moved over the vial or container using the handling device. Alternatively, the container or vial can be moved under the device. In a system, the device is typically arranged in a closing station.

[0016] The device according to the invention serves for the centered placement of a closure on a container. The device comprises a receiving area for receiving the closure to be placed and a pressing unit. The pressing unit is designed to press the closure onto the container in a pressing direction. The device can comprise a force sensor designed to detect a contact force with which the closure is pressed onto the container when it is applied thereto.

[0017] The receiving area is designed to receive the closure, for example to take it from a storage container and hold it until it has been placed on the container. In order to ensure that the closure and container are precisely aligned with one another, the device has a centering device. The centering device is coupled to the pressing unit. The coupling is designed in such a way that the centering device centers the closure and container with respect to one another when the closure is moved towards the container in the pressing direction by means of the pressing unit. During this centering, the centering device contacts the container and aligns the closure and the container with respect to one another. The container can be moved and the pressing unit orThe closure can remain stationary in the plane orthogonal to the pressing direction, or the device or the closure held in the receiving area is moved, or the closure and container are moved until both are precisely aligned to one another in the desired position.

[0018] The pressing unit can be designed as a plunger that is arranged in the device so that it can move up and down along the pressing direction. The plunger can have a receiving area at one end for grasping and holding the closure.

[0019] In general, the receiving area can be arranged on the pressing unit and can be moved with it along the pressing direction.

[0020] The receiving area can be designed as a flat area, for example, at one end of the plunger, into which a vacuum channel opens. This allows the receiving area to be positioned close to and above a closure, such as an aluminum cap with a flip-off function, and then be drawn into the receiving area by vacuum from the vacuum channel and held there.

[0021] The centering device can comprise at least one contact finger, which is connected to the

[0022] A sliding guide mechanically ensures that the contact finger reliably performs a centering movement when actuated by a movement of the pressing unit.

[0023] The contact finger can be preloaded radially inward. The preload can be achieved by a spring. A coil spring, a leaf spring, or another spring can be used for this purpose. It is also conceivable for the contact finger to be preloaded radially inward pneumatically or hydraulically.

[0024] The device has, in particular, a plurality of contact fingers. In particular, the contact fingers can be arranged distributed in a circumferential direction around a position of the receiving area. The contact fingers can, in particular, be arranged concentrically to the position. The contact finger or fingers have, in particular, contact sections which are provided for contacting the container. In particular, the contact sections for contacting the container are provided in a mouth section close to the opening. The contact section or sections can, in particular, be designed to be complementary to a region of the container to be contacted (in particular the mouth section). In particular, the contact sections can be designed in the shape of a circular segment in order to contact a round mouth section of a container evenly over its surface.It is particularly advantageous to contact the container at the mouth section, since, unlike contacting, for example, in the belly area or at the bottom, manufacturing tolerances, especially in the vial, can no longer lead to inaccuracies. If the mouth section is correctly aligned, the opening is correctly aligned and positioned.

[0025] The contact finger can be mounted in the device so that it can pivot radially inwards and outwards by means of a pivotable bearing. The contact finger can, for example, pivot radially inwards towards a central axis when the closure or when the receiving area holding the closure is lowered in the device, the closure being lowered along the central axis in the direction of pressing in the device. The receiving area can be arranged on a plunger forming the pressing-on unit, the plunger forming a guide track along which a pickup element of the contact finger moves and follows the guide track.

[0026] The pressing unit has a section extending in the pressing direction, which has a tapered section, wherein the contour of the tapered section is designed as a link guide for an engagement element.

[0027] The pressing unit can generally comprise a guide rail into which a pickup element of the contact finger(s) engages in order to perform a centering movement when the closure moves in the device. The guide rail can be open on one side, and the contact finger(s) can be tensioned against the guide rail. However, the guide rail can also be closed and form a positive guide for the respective pickup element of a contact finger.

[0028] As already mentioned, the device can be designed to suck the closure by means of negative pressure and to receive it in the receiving area. The pressing unit can comprise a negative pressure channel that extends into the receiving area in order to provide a negative pressure for sucking a closure into the receiving area. This allows closures to be received in the receiving area in a particularly simple manner.

[0029] When suction is carried out using negative pressure, it can be provided that the receiving area does not specify an exact position of the closure, but that a slightly eccentric receiving of the closure is also possible. In this case, the centering device, in particular a plurality of contact fingers of the centering device, can be designed and arranged such that they effect position control of the closure when the latter is moved into a retracted position, for example by pulling back the plunger at the end of which the receiving area is arranged. The centering device or its contact fingers can form a through opening with a cross section which is designed such that only closures which are arranged approximately in a desired position in the receiving area can pass through it. If a closure is arranged too far from the desired position in the receiving area, it is centered by the centering device orwhose contact finger is detached, falls off and a new closure has to be grasped, picked up and held. When the closure is moved further back into the device, it can be provided that the centering device or its contact finger makes lateral contact with the closure and aligns it in a centered manner. In particular, it can be provided that the receptacle is moved back into the device by means of the plunger after a closure has been picked up and when the closure has passed the centering device or its contact finger without being detached, that the receptacle is moved back further and the centering device, e.g. by pivoting its contact fingers radially inwards, contacts the closure laterally at several points around the circumference and centers it in the receptacle area. When the closure or the receptacle area is then moved out, the closure is then centered in the receptacle area, e.g.arranged centrally on the tappet.

[0030] The device can comprise a pressure or flow sensor which is designed to detect the pressure or flow in the vacuum channel in order to check the suction process of a closure. If, for example, a closure is tilted and not positioned correctly in the receiving area, sufficient negative pressure cannot be built up in the vacuum channel and the error can be noticed. Likewise, a defective closure or a dropped closure can be detected. Even if a closure falls off because it is not positioned correctly can be detected in this way.

[0031] However, the receiving area can also operate without negative pressure. This is particularly useful for toxic and / or highly potent active substances being filled, as no purification of the extracted air is necessary. For this purpose, the receiving area can be designed to clamp and hold a closure. This clamp and hold can be provided instead of negative pressure or to support such a collection.

[0032] The pressing unit can comprise an ejector, which, by means of a relative movement between the receiving area and the ejector along the pressing direction, can eject a closure held in the receiving area. In a basic position, the ejector can release the receiving area, so that a closure can be received in the receiving area by pressing the receiving area onto the closure and can be held there in a clamped manner.

[0033] For this purpose, the receiving area can in particular comprise clamping elements, for example clamping jaws or clamping fingers, in order to clamp and hold a closure.

[0034] The device can comprise a gassing channel designed to direct a gas into the area around an opening of the container to be sealed. The container can thus be sealed under the desired atmosphere. For this purpose, the gassing channel can open into the area of ​​the device around a position of the receiving area when the container is closed. Thus, a desired atmosphere can be created locally in this area by introducing gas.

[0035] As already explained, part of the present invention is also a system for closing containers using closures, wherein the system comprises a device as described above and / or below in a closing station. The system can be designed to close individual containers with closures in the closing station, or the system can be designed to feed the containers in a tray to the closing station and close the containers in the tray.

[0036] The system can be designed in such a way that the centering device, during centering, contacts a respective container at a mouth section which merges into an opening of the container in order to center it.

[0037] System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the system is designed in such a way that the centering device moves the container during centering, so that the container is centered under the device fixed in place in the closing station.

[0038] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of embodiments of the device.

[0039] The drawing shows

[0040] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device according to the invention for closing containers when receiving a closure and a container onto which the closure is to be placed;

[0041] Fig. 2 shows the device from Fig. 1 in a state in which the closure is moved into the device and is centered by means of contact fingers of a centering device on a plunger; Fig. 3 shows the device from Fig. 1 in a state in which the closure has been moved further into the device and is held there and the device has been lowered onto the container;

[0042] Fig. 4 shows the device from Fig. 1, wherein the centering device centers the container relative to the closure;

[0043] Fig. 5 shows the device from Fig. 1, wherein the centering device releases the container again;

[0044] Fig. 6 shows the device from Fig. 1, with the closure placed on the container;

[0045] Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Fig. 1 when placing the closure on the container;

[0046] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 7, showing a gassing channel;

[0047] Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Fig. 1;

[0048] Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention.

[0049] The following explanation of exemplary embodiments is to be understood as examples, and the features of the exemplary embodiments are partially optional without this being specifically pointed out again. Figure 1 shows a device 10 for the centered placement of a closure 12 on a container 15.

[0050] The container 15, which is designed as a vial in the present case, is also shown in Figure 1 and comprises a receiving container 22 and a stopper 24. The stopper 24 forms a primary closure, which closes the opening of the receiving container 22, but the container 15 must still be closed with the closure 12, which forms a secondary closure. The secondary closure can, as in the example in Figure 1, in particular be an aluminum cap 14 with a "flip-off" 13.

[0051] The device 10 according to the invention comprises a receiving area 16. The receiving area 16 is designed to receive the closure 12 to be placed. The device 10 can pick up a closure 12 from a template in the sense of a pick and place mechanism and hold it (pick up) in the receiving area 16 and make it available for closing a container. This picking up is shown in Figure 1. Here, the receiving area 16 is in an extended state and projects from the outline of the device 10, in particular from a housing sleeve 17. The picking up can take place in various ways, for example by means of negative pressure, as will be explained in more detail with reference to the device in Figure 1. Alternatively or in a supporting manner, the picking up can also take place by means of a clamping grip. Clamping elements are typically provided for this purpose.According to the invention, the gripping and holding by means of the receiving area is also provided by an adhesive, microstructured polymer. The polymer can, for example, be formed as a coating in the receiving area 16.

[0052] The device 10 according to the invention further comprises a pressing unit 18. The pressing unit 18 is designed to press the closure 12 onto the container 15 along a pressing direction 20. Figure 2 shows the device 10 with the closure 12 located in the receiving area 16 during retraction. Figure 3 shows the device 10 placed above the container 15 with the closure 12 retracted. Figures 4 to 6 show the subsequent lowering and pressing on of the closure 12.

[0053] In the example of Figure 1, the device 10 comprises a force sensor 50. The force sensor 50 is designed to detect a contact force with which the closure 12 is pressed onto the container 15 when it is applied thereto. The detected force can, for example, serve as a termination criterion for aborting the pressing process. Based on the force developed during the pressing process, any misalignment can also be detected.

[0054] The device 10 comprises a centering device 28. The centering device 28 serves to ensure that the container 15 and the closure 12 are correctly aligned with one another when the closure 12 is placed on the container. For this purpose, the centering device 28 is coupled to the pressing unit 18. The coupling is designed such that the centering device 28 centers the closure 12 and the container 15 with one another when the closure 12 is moved in the pressing direction 20 towards the container 15 by means of the pressing unit 18. During this centering, the centering device 28 contacts the container 15 and aligns the closure 12 and the container 15 with one another.

[0055] In the embodiment according to Figure 1, the coupling is realized by means of a link guide 29.

[0056] For this purpose, the pressing unit 18 comprises a plunger 19 which is arranged in the device 10 so as to be movable up and down along the pressing direction 20. The plunger 19 of the pressing unit 18 comprises a shaft 26 which extends in the pressing direction 20. This shaft 26 has a tapered section 27. The contour of the tapered section 27 serves as the slotted guide 29. The centering device 28 in turn has contact fingers 30 which each have an engagement element 32 in the form of a roller 32. The contact fingers 30 are mounted so as to be pivotable radially inwards and outwards in the device 10 by means of a pivotable bearing 36. The contact fingers 30 are prestressed in the radially inwards direction 40 by means of a respective spring 34.As a result, the roller 32 follows the contour of the shaft 26 and when the plunger 19 moves up and down, the fingers move radially inwards as the roller rolls along the tapered section 27, see Figure 4. When the plunger 19 is then moved further downwards, the contact fingers 30 move radially outwards again, see Figure 5. With the radially inward movement, the container 15 is aligned exactly under the closure 12. With the further downward movement of the plunger 19 shown in Figure 5, the closure 12 is finally pressed onto the container.

[0057] During the described movement of the receiving area 16 in the device 10 by means of the pressing unit 18 on which it is arranged and with which it is movable, the closure 12 is held in the receiving area 16 by means of negative pressure. This negative pressure is provided via the negative pressure channel 42 in the receiving area 16.

[0058] The device 10, as shown in Figure 1, is designed accordingly to suck in the closure 12 by means of negative pressure and to receive it in the receiving area 16. For this purpose, the shaft 26 of the plunger 19 of the pressing unit 18 has the negative pressure channel 42 in the center, which extends into the receiving area 16 in order to provide a negative pressure for sucking a closure 12 into the receiving area. The device 10 further comprises a pressure or flow sensor 52, which is designed to detect the pressure or flow in the negative pressure channel 42 (both types of sensors are possible) in order to check the suction process of a closure 12.

[0059] When suctioning by means of negative pressure, as in the example of Figure 1, it can be provided that the receiving area 16 does not specify a precise position of the closure 12, but a slightly eccentric receiving of the closure 12 is also possible. In the example of Figure 1, for example, the end of the plunger 19 is designed as a flat surface into which the negative pressure channel 42 opens and can suck a closure 12 against the flat surface of the end of the plunger 19. As a result, the closure 12 can be held in the receiving area 16 without jamming and, in particular, its position in the receiving area 16 can be adjusted.

[0060] The centering device 28, in particular several

[0061] Contact fingers 30 of the centering device 28 can be designed and arranged in such a way that they control the position of the closure 12 when the latter is moved into a retracted position, for example by pulling back the plunger 19, at the end of which the receiving area 16 is arranged. The centering device 28 or its contact fingers 30 can form a through opening 58 (marked by a double arrow in Figure 1) with a cross section which is designed in such a way that only closures 12 which are arranged approximately in a desired position in the receiving area 16 can pass through it. If a closure 12 is arranged too far from the desired position in the receiving area 16, it is detached by the centering device 28 or its contact fingers 30, falls off and a new closure 12 has to be grasped, picked up and held.

[0062] 2, it can be provided that the centering device 28 or its contact fingers 30 contact the closure 12 laterally and align it in a centered manner. In particular, it can be provided that the receptacle 16 is moved back into the device 10 by means of the plunger 19 after a closure 12 has been picked up and when the closure 12 has passed the centering device 28 or its contact fingers 30 without being detached, that the receptacle 16 is moved back further and the centering device 28, for example by radially inward pivoting of its contact fingers 30, contacts the closure 12 laterally at several points with its contact surfaces 38 and centers it in the receiving area 16. When the closure 12 or of the receiving area 16, the shutter 12 is then centered in the receiving area 16, e.g.arranged centrally on the tappet 19 .

[0063] Thus, first the closure 12 is arranged centrally on the plunger 19 and, as described above, when the closure 12 is moved out, the container 15 is aligned and centered with respect to the plunger 19.

[0064] The receiving area 16 can also be designed to grip and hold a closure 12 in a clamping manner. This is shown in Figure 9. In order to eject the closure from the receiving area 16, the pressing unit 18 in this example comprises an ejector 44 which, by means of a relative movement between the receiving area 16 and the ejector 44 along the pressing direction 20, causes the closure 12 held in the receiving area 16 to be ejected. In a basic position, the ejector 44 releases the receiving area 16 so that a respective closure 12 can be received in the receiving area 16 by pressing the receiving area 16 onto a closure 12 and can be held there in a clamping manner.

[0065] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the device 10 can comprise a gassing device 45 with a gassing channel 46, which is designed to guide a gas into the area around an opening of the container 15 to be closed, in order to be able to close the container 15 under the desired atmosphere. For this purpose, the gassing channel 46 opens into the area of ​​the device 10 around a position of the receiving area 16 when closing the container 15. The invention also comprises a system 56 for closing containers 15 by means of closures 12, as shown schematically in Figure 10. The system 56 comprises a closure station 60, in which a device 10, as described here, for example according to Figure 1 or Figure 8 or Figure

[0066] 9 is arranged. The system 56 is designed to transport containers along a transport direction 57 and to separate them and then to close them with an aluminum cap 14 which forms a closure 12 in the sense of the invention.

[0067] The system 56 is designed in such a way that the centering device 28 of the device 10 moves the respective container 15 during centering, so that it is positioned under the device fixed in the closure station 60

[0068] 10 is centered .

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (10) for the centered placement of a closure (12) on a container (15), wherein the device (10) comprises: a receiving area (16) for receiving the closure (12) to be placed, a pressing unit (18) which is designed to press the closure (12) along a pressing direction (20) onto the container (15), in particular wherein the device (10) comprises a force sensor (50) which is designed to detect a contact force with which the closure (12) is pressed onto the container (15) when it is applied thereto, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a centering device (28) which is coupled to the pressing unit (18), wherein the coupling is designed such that the centering device (28) causes a centering of the closure (12) and the container (15) relative to one another when the Closure (12) is moved in the pressing direction (20) towards the container (15) by means of the pressing unit (18),wherein the centering device (28) contacts the container (15) during centering and aligns the closure (12) and the container (15) with each other.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressing unit (18) comprises a plunger which is arranged in the device (10) so as to be movable up and down along the pressing direction (20).

3. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving area (16) on the Pressing unit (18) is arranged and is movable with this in the device (10) along the pressing direction (20).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering device (28) comprises at least one contact finger (30) which is coupled to the pressing unit (18) via a slotted guide (29).

5. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact finger (30) is prestressed in the radially inward direction (40), in particular wherein the contact finger (30) is prestressed in the radially inward direction (40) by means of a spring (34).

6. Device (10) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the contact finger (30) is mounted in the device (10) by means of a pivotable bearing (36) so as to be pivotable radially inwards and outwards.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing unit (18) has a shaft (26) extending in the pressing direction (20) which has a tapered section (27), wherein the contour of the tapered section (27) serves as a slotted guide (29) for an engagement element (32) of the centering device (28) is formed.

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) is designed to suck in the closure (12) by means of negative pressure and to receive it in the receiving area (16), in particular wherein the pressing unit (18) comprises a negative pressure channel (42) which extends into the receiving area (16) in order to provide the negative pressure for sucking in the closure (12) in the receiving area (16), in particular wherein the device (10) comprises a pressure or flow sensor (52) which is designed to detect the pressure or flow in the negative pressure channel (42) in order to check the suction process of the closure (12).

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering device (28) is coupled to the pressing unit (18) in such a way that the centering device (28) causes a centering of the closure (12) in the receiving area (16) when the closure (12) is moved against the pressing direction (20) by means of the The pressing unit (18) is moved after being picked up into the device (10), wherein the centering device (28) contacts the closure (12) laterally during centering and centers the closure (12) in the receiving area (16) in a desired position.

10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receiving area (16) is designed for clamping, in particular vacuum-free, gripping and holding a closure (12).

11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receiving area (16) is designed for the adhesive gripping and holding of a closure (12), in particular without negative pressure, in particular wherein for this purpose a microstructured polymer is arranged in the receiving area (16) as a contact element for contacting the closure (12).

12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing unit (18) comprises an ejector (44), wherein the ejector (44) is designed to cause an ejection of a closure (12) held in the receiving area (16) by means of a relative movement between the receiving area (16) and the ejector (44) along the pressing direction (20), wherein the ejector (44) releases the receiving area (16) in a basic position, so that a closure (12) by pressing the receiving area (16) onto the Closure (12) can be received in the receiving area (16) and can be held there, in particular by clamping or adhesive means.

13. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a gassing channel (46) which is designed to guide a gas into the area around an opening of the container (15) to be closed in order to be able to close the container (15) under the desired atmosphere, wherein the gassing channel (46) for this purpose is inserted into the area of ​​the device (10) around a position of the receiving area (16) when closing the container (15) flows into it.

14. System (56) for closing containers (15) by means of closures (12), wherein the system comprises in a closing station (60) a device (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the system (56) is designed to close individual containers (15) in the closing station (60) with closures (12) or the system (56) is designed to feed the containers (15) in a tray to the closing station (60) and to close the containers (15) in the tray.

15. System (56) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the system (56) is designed such that the centering device (28) during centering contacts a respective container (15) at a mouth section which merges into an opening of the container (15) in order to center it.

16. System (56) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the system (56) is designed such that the centering device (28) moves the container (15) during centering, so that the container (15) is centered under the device (10) arranged stationary in the closure station (60).

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