Closure Assembly With Removable Disc for Isolated Container Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling devices and methods for containers, such as pharmaceutical containers, fail to provide effective isolation during the filling process, leading to potential cross-contamination and increased downtime for cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A closure assembly comprising a collar with internal threads, a disc with tabs, and a liner secured to the disc, which allows for removable coupling and sealing, enabling isolated filling by lifting the disc with a machine tool and using an isolation cover to maintain a sterile environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing filling devices are used, then filling can be performed, but cross-contamination occurs and cleaning downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisolation effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The closure assembly is divided into separable components: a collar that remains on the container, a disc that is removed after filling, and a liner that stays sealed to the container. This segmentation allows the filling device to be quickly reset between containers without complete disassembly, reducing cleaning downtime while maintaining isolation effectiveness during the filling process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure assembly acts as an intermediary isolated environment between the filling needle and the container contents. By creating a sealed space defined by the collar, disc, and liner, the system prevents direct exposure between multiple containers, eliminating cross-contamination risks while enabling efficient filling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a sealed filling system is used, then cross-contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidclosure assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex sealing function is segmented across three simple components: the collar provides the base seal structure, the disc provides the removable closure, and the liner provides the inner seal. This segmentation achieves reliable contamination prevention while keeping each individual component simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liner is nested within the closure assembly structure, with the disc covering the liner opening and the collar providing the outer seal. This nested arrangement creates an effective sealed environment using simple, concentric components that are easy to assemble and disassemble, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12552585B2Closure assembly for filling a container under isolated conditions

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA LLC

AI summary

A closure assembly for filling a container under isolated conditions. The closure assembly includes a collar with internal threads for coupling with a finish of the container. A disc includes first coupling members for removably coupling with the collar. A liner is secured to the disc. The liner is seated on the finish of the container when the collar is coupled to the finish.