BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thermo-sealing apparatus for filling containers with liquids and sealing said containers.

As is known, for preserving biologic material samples are frequently used solutions of formic aldehyde, known by the commercial name of formalin.

For example, in a hospital environment, the biologic materials are preserved in formalin contained in sealed containers to allow the preserved samples to be analyzed as desired.

The use of formalin has at least two main problems.

The first is that it is necessary to properly meter the formalin amount used for each sample, since an excessive dose would alter the sample thereby preventing it from being properly tested, whereas an insufficient dose would prevent the sample to be properly preserved.

The second main problem is to reduce as far as possible an exposure of the operators to formalin and vapors thereof.

In fact, formaldehyde has been entered by the "Associazione Interna- zionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro" in a list of substances considered as carcinogenic for the human beings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, allowing to precisely and automatically meter the liquid while preventing any undesired exposure of the operators to said liquids or vapors thereof.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a machine which has been specifically designed for using formalin to preserve biologic material samples in sealed containers or vessels.

Another object is to provide such a machine adapted to operate with different size containers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a machine which, owing to its specifically designed constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, characterized in that said machine comprises a bearing structure on which a bell element is mounted, at a top position with respect to support means for supporting at least a container to be filled and sealed.

Said bell member comprises a metering device, die-cutting means and sealing means, adapted to die-cut and seal a film sliding between said bell member and the container to be filled.

The machine is characterized in that it further comprises an anti- polluting and safety system for the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to the present in- vention, being partially shown by clashed lines;

Figure 2 is a partially cross-sectioned front elevation view showing a metering device and a sealing device in a loading operating step for loading a container to be filled with a liquid and sealed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a liquid injecting operating step;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a partially re-opening operating step for partially re-opening the bell member for causing a die-cut film to slide therethrough;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing a further operating step for tightly closing the bell member to perform a vacuum, gas and/or sealing operating cycle;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing an operating step for opening the bell member to remove the container therefrom;

Figure 7 is a partially cross-sectioned view, on an enlarged scale, showing in a detailed manner a portion of the die-cut member and of the sealing die;

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the overall machine or apparatus;

Figure 9 is an exploded view showing the bell member and a system for supporting a container;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the bell member and the container supporting system in an assembled condition thereof;

Figure 11 is a partially cross-sectioned front elevation view showing the metering device and the sealing device, in an operating step for loading a large size container to be filled with liquid and sealed;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 , showing a liquid injection operating step;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, showing an operating step for partially re-opening the bell member for allowing the die-cut film to slide therethrough;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, showing an operating step for tightly re-closing the bell member to perform a vacuum, gas and/or sealing operating cycle;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, showing an operating step for opening the bell member to remove a container therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned fig- ures, the thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1 , comprises a bearing structure 2, optionally of a wheel-mounted type, on which a bell member 3 is assembled, at a higher position than that of supporting means for supporting at least a ves- sel or container 4, 44 to be filled and sealed.

The bell member 3 comprises a metering device 5, die-cutting means 6, 66, sealing means 7, 77, provided for die-cutting and sealing a film 8, slidingly movable between the bell member 3 and the container 4, 44 to be filled.

Said film 8 is supplied from a film bobbin 9 and entrained by entraining or driving means 10, preferably comprising an electric motor.

The container supporting means comprise a drawer member 1 1 , including a counter-biasing recess 12 and provided for supporting a small size container 4.

A lifting device 13 is herein provided for vertically displacing the drawer member 1 1 , as schematically shown in Figure 8, to displace in turn the container 4 from a sealing and filling position to a lowered position for allowing the film to properly slide therethrough.

The support means comprise moreover a second drawer member 111 , provided for supporting a larger size container 44.

The second drawer member 111 is not vertically movable, and only the bell member 4 is vertically displaced or driven, between a sealing and filling position and a film 8 sliding position.

Between the drawer member 11 and the cover of the machine 1 , a bellows member 14 is arranged for providing a tight or sealed relationship between the inner part of the machine and the outer environment, while allowing said drawer member to be crosswise driven.

The metering device 5 comprises a nozzle 15, driven by a metering pump 16 and coupled to a supply tube, in turn coupled to a liquid tank.

The die-cutting means of the bell member 3 comprise a first cylindric die-cut member 6 and a second cylindric die-cut member 66 having a larger diameter than that of the first die-cut member 6 and coaxially extending therewith.

The first die-cut member 6 is mounted on a first sealing ring element 7, which forms, in cooperation with a second sealing ring element 77, said sealing means.

The second die-cut member 66 is mounted on the second sealing ring element 77.

Said cylindric die-cut members 6 and 66 are arranged outside of the respective sealing ring elements 7 and 77.

Each die-cut member-ring element pair is vertically movable, in an independent manner from one another, so as to be displaced from a raised position to a lowered position where the die-cut member 6 or 66 will die-cut the film 8 and the respective ring element 7 or 77 will perform a sealing of the film 8 on the edge of the container 4 or 44.

Advantageously, the sealing operation is a cold-sealing operation.

The machine comprises moreover a suction system for sucking vapors which may be produced during the injection step. The thermo-sealing machine according to the present invention allows to package under vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere condition liquid containers, by an anti-polluting and operator safety system.

The operation of the machine according to the present invention will be hereinbelow disclosed with reference to a small diameter container 4.

More specifically, a container 4, containing a sample 30, is engaged in the counter-biasing recess 12 provided in the drawer member 11 , as the latter is arranged in a withdrawn position thereof shown by dashed lines in Figure 8.

Then, the drawer member 11 is engaged in the machine body at a liquid feeding and sealing position, which is shown by continuous lines in said Figure 8 and moreover in Figure 2.

The bell member 4 is then automatically lowered and the metering device 5 will inject a given amount of liquid 31 , for example formalin, into the container 4 through the injection nozzle 15, as shown in Figure 3.

Thus, the liquid 31 will enter the container 4 through an opening preformed in the film 8 in a preceding loading operation, as it will be disclosed hereinbelow.

The bell member is spaced from the top edge of the container to allow the film 8 to properly slide so as to cover the container, as shown in Figure 4.

Then, the bell 4 is again tightly closed on the drawer member, and in this time the machine will perform a vacuum, gas and sealing operating cycle, or it will perform only the sealing operation, depending on the product packaging requirements.

More specifically, the sealing is performed by a cold-sealing or welding operation, performed through the sealing or welding ring element 7.

In this operating step, shown in Figure 5, an atmosphere communicating solenoid valve is opened, and simultaneously a further solenoid valve coupled to the suction device is also opened.

Then, the bell member is automatically re-opened, as shown in Figure 6, and the drawer member 1 1 is withdrawn.

In this position it is possible to remove the container, in a sealed con- dition, and the machine will be ready for performing a following operating cycle with a film 8 already die-cut by the cylindric die-cut member 6 during the second closure of the bell member 4.

In an operation with the small diameter container 4, the opening and closing of the bell member are performed by lowering and raising the dra- wer member 1 1 through the raising or lifting device 13.

The operation of the inventive machine for a greater size container 44 is analogous to the preceding one, with the difference that the die-cutting and sealing operations are performed by the outermost cylindric die-cut member 66 and the corresponding sealing ring element 77.

Moreover, for a larger diameter container 44, the support drawer 1 11 is not vertically movable, and only the bell member 4 will be driven for performing its opening and closing operations.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the invention has provided a machine including an efficient anti-polluting and operator safety system, allowing containers to be automatically filled with liquids and sealed.

According to the present invention, the film, entrained by an electric motor between the container and the corresponding sealing ring element, allows the injected liquid to pass through the die-cut openings of the film performed in a preceding operating cycle; after the metering cycle, the film will be again fed to be further sealed and die-cut on the container.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any according to requirements.