Flangeless Container Filling via Removable Finger Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional filling equipment designed for flanged containers is not suitable for flangeless containers, such as pre-filled syringes and drug cartridges, which are used in auto-injectors, as it requires additional space and increases the physical envelope unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
A flangeless container support assembly and handling apparatus that includes a tray with wells and a removable finger grip, as well as a handling apparatus with a sleeve and vacuum port, allowing for the secure and airtight sealing of flangeless containers during the filling process, enabling the use of conventional filling equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flange is added to the container to enable handling by conventional filling equipment, then the container can be filled using existing equipment, but the overall physical envelope of the auto-injector increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
A temporary finger grip with flange is attached to the container before the filling process. This preliminary action enables the container to be handled by conventional filling equipment designed for flanged containers, while the grip is removed after filling to restore the compact flangeless design for the final auto-injector application
Solution Approach 2:
The finger grip acts as an intermediary component that temporarily provides the flange interface needed for conventional filling equipment. This mediator enables compatibility during the filling process without being part of the final product, thus resolving the contradiction between equipment compatibility and compact design
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional filling equipment is used for flangeless containers, then existing equipment can be utilized, but the handling and sealing of flangeless containers becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The finger grip is attached beforehand to provide the necessary flange interface, enabling conventional filling equipment to handle and seal flangeless containers without modification. This preliminary preparation resolves the handling and sealing problems while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The finger grip serves as an intermediary that bridges the incompatibility between flangeless containers and conventional filling equipment. It provides the necessary interface for handling and sealing operations, making the process as easy as filling flanged containers
3Ease of operation
If a flange is provided on the container, then the container can be supported during handling, but additional space is required and the compact design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Support is provided temporarily through the attached finger grip during handling and filling operations. After the filling process is complete, the grip is removed, leaving the container without a flange for the compact auto-injector design. This resolves the contradiction between handling support and space requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the efficient and secure filling of flangeless containers using conventional filling equipment, maintaining the compact design necessary for auto-injectors while ensuring proper handling and sealing during the filling operation.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum is applied to the vacuum port
Implementation Method 2
Atmospheric pressure drives the piston out of engagement with the knock-out rod and into a sealing position in the opening of the container when a vacuum applied to the vacuum port is released
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A finger grip for a flangeless container, the finger grip having a skirt removably attachable to an open end portion of the container and a lip that extends radially outwardly from the skirt. The flangeless container is fillable by capping the container using a cap element to attach the finger grip to the container; installing the container in a container support assembly including a tray having a plurality of wells; filling the container; inserting a piston into the container; and removing the finger grip. Each well has a depth less than a predetermined length of the container, a lower portion of each well having a first cross-sectional shape similar to but greater than the cross-sectional shape of the flangeless container, an upper portion of each well having a second cross-sectional shape similar to but greater than the first cross-sectional shape.