Container Closure System

Abstract

A system for closing tamper-resistant containers, each container having a base portion, a sidewall extending upward from the base portion, and a lid having a peripheral groove on an upper surface of the lid. The system comprises a substantially planar surface supporting the base portion of the container and a sealing mechanism having a lower surface with a peripheral flange configured to engage the peripheral groove of the lid of the container and to exert a closing force on the lid in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface to seal the container by attaching the lid to the sidewall.

1 . A system for closing tamper-resistant containers, each container having a base portion, a sidewall extending upward from the base portion, and a lid having a peripheral groove on an upper surface of the lid, the system comprising:
 a) a substantially planar surface supporting the base portion of the container; and   b) a sealing mechanism having a lower surface with a peripheral flange configured to engage the peripheral groove of the lid portion and to exert a closing force in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface to seal the container by attaching the lid to the base.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral flange is continuous. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral flange comprises a plurality of discrete sections. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is movable between a first position, wherein the sealing mechanism is remote from the container; and a second position, wherein the peripheral flange engages the peripheral groove and the sealing mechanism is positioned to apply the closing force to the lid of the container. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism further comprises a button extending downwardly from a central portion of the lower surface of the sealing mechanism, the button configured to engage a central portion of the lid and force air out of the container immediately prior to the lid being sealingly attached to the base. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing mechanism further comprises a flexible arm attached to the central portion of the sealing mechanism, the flexible arm extending below the button such that the flexible arm makes contact with the lid of the container prior to the button making contact with the lid of the container. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a plate positioned parallel to the substantially planar surface and having an aperture configured to receive and support the upper periphery of the sidewall. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a handle connected to the sealing mechanisms and pivotally mounted to the system, the handle configured to allow a user to manually move the sealing mechanism from the first position to the second position and to apply the closing force. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially planar surface has an aperture configured to receive the base portion of the container. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a peripheral lip integrated into the upper periphery of the sidewall, and wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of opposed c-shaped supports configured to support and surround the container under the peripheral lip while the sealing mechanism applies the closing force. 
   
   
       11 . A system for closing tamper-resistant containers, each container having a base portion, a sidewall extending upward from the base portion, and a lid having a peripheral groove on an upper surface of the lid, the system comprising:
 a) a sealing mechanism having a lower surface with a peripheral flange configured to engage the peripheral groove of the lid portion and to exert a closing force in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface to seal the container by attaching the lid to the base; and   b) a gripping mechanism movable from an open position, wherein the gripping mechanism is remote from the container, to a closed position, wherein the gripping mechanism surrounds and supports the sidewall of the container while the sealing mechanism exerts the closing force.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a conveyor belt mounted on a support table, the conveyor belt supporting the base portion of the container and moving the container along the length of the support table, the sealing mechanism and gripping mechanism being mounted to the support table. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the conveyor belt forms a substantially planar surface and wherein the gripping mechanism moves reciprocally in a plane parallel to the substantially planar surface of the conveyor belt. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller interfacing with a sensor, the conveyor belt, the gripping mechanism, and the sealing mechanism, wherein the sensor sends a signal to the controller when the container reaches a first point along the length of the table, wherein upon receiving the signal, the controller stops the conveyor belt, causes the gripping mechanism to move from the open position to the closed position, and causes the sealing mechanism to engage the lid of the container to and exert the closing force. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of opposed c-shaped supports, an interior portion of each of the c-shaped supports conforming to the shape of one half of the upper periphery of the container such that when the gripping mechanism is in the closed position, the c-shaped supports together form an aperture that corresponds to a perimeter shape of the upper periphery of the container. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially c-shaped supports are removably attached to the system. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising actuators for reciprocally moving the c-shaped supports between the open position and the closed position. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the aperture formed by the c-shaped supports when in the closed position is substantially rectangular. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the aperture formed by the c-shaped supports when in the closed position is substantially circular. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing mechanism is removably attached to the system. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a substantially rectangular plate. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a substantially circular plate with a concave lower surface. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a reorientation mechanism comprising a spindle and a plurality of prongs, wherein the reorientation mechanism rotates the container 90 degrees as it travels along the conveyor belt. 
   
   
       24 . A method for sealing tamper-evident containers, each container having a base portion, a sidewall extending upward from the base portion, and a lid having a peripheral groove on the upper surface of the lid, the method comprising:
 a) moving a container along the length of a support structure using a conveyor belt;   b) sensing the presence of the container at a predetermined position along the length of the support structure by means of a sensor, wherein the predetermined position is directly below a sealing mechanism;   c) stopping the conveyor belt when the container reaches the predetermined position;   d) moving a pair of opposed gripping supports in a plane parallel to an upper surface of the conveyor belt from an open position to a closed position to surround and support an upper periphery of the container sidewall;   e) sealing the container by press fitting the lid of the container to the sidewall of the container to form a substantially tamper-resistant seal by applying a closing force to the peripheral groove of the lid by means of the sealing mechanism, the sealing mechanism having a peripheral flange configured to mate with the peripheral groove.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising evacuating air from the container prior to the sealing the container. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of evacuating air from the container is accomplished via a button and a flexible arm attached to a central lower surface of the sealing mechanism, the button extending below the peripheral flange and the flexible arm extending below the button.