Vacuum filling assembly and corresponding system and method

Abstract

A vacuum filling assembly for filling the cavities of packaging with objects, as well as a related system and method, are described. The filling assembly has a handle which can be gripped by a user so as to manually operate the filling assembly. The filling assembly also has a manifold which receives suction, such as from a vacuum supply. A valve is used to control the suction applied to the objects, and is operable between a retain and release configuration. The filling assembly also has a plurality of prongs which are in fluid engagement with the manifold so that the objects are retained at the end of the prongs when the valve is in the retain configuration, and so that the objects can be released into the cavities of the packaging when the valve is in the release configuration.

1 . A vacuum filling assembly for filling a packaging having a plurality of cavities with objects, the filling assembly comprising:
 a handle;   a manifold mounted about the handle for receiving suction;   a valve operatively connected to the manifold and manually operable between a retain configuration wherein the valve is in an open position and suction is supplied to the manifold, and a release configuration wherein the valve is in a closed position and the manifold is free of suction; and   a plurality of prongs in fluid engagement with the manifold and extending therefrom, each prong configured for applying suction to a corresponding object upon the valve being in the retain configuration, thereby retaining the object, and each prong configured for releasing the retained object in a corresponding cavity of the packaging upon the valve being in the release configuration, thereby filling the packaging.   
     
     
         2 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is oriented horizontally and comprises an outlet and a plurality of inlets, each inlet being in fluid engagement with a corresponding prong. 
     
     
         3 . A filling assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve is operatively connected to the handle and the outlet of the manifold. 
     
     
         4 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is oriented vertically and comprises an outlet, and an inlet in fluid engagement with the plurality of prongs. 
     
     
         5 . A filling assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the valve is operatively connected to the manifold between the outlet and the inlet. 
     
     
         6 . A filling assembly according to  claim 4 , comprising a flexible tubing mounted to the outlet of the manifold for supplying suction, and further comprising a biasing element mounted about the flexible tubing for supporting the filling assembly. 
     
     
         7 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a cylinder rotatably mounted within the manifold and rotatable between the retain and release configurations, and a tab extending from the cylinder for rotating the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a push button with a spring. 
     
     
         9 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prongs are mounted to the manifold and spaced apart from one another such that each prong releases an object into a corresponding cavity of the packaging upon the valve being in the release configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prongs are mounted to the manifold and spaced equidistantly from each other along a length of the manifold. 
     
     
         11 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of prongs is a nozzle extending from the manifold. 
     
     
         12 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prongs comprises at least two prongs. 
     
     
         13 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging is a blister pack. 
     
     
         14 . A method for filling a packaging having a plurality of cavities with objects, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) supplying suction to at least one prong;   b) retaining at least one of the objects with the at least one prong via suction;   c) placing the at least one prong and the retained at least one object over a corresponding cavity of the packaging; and   d) releasing the at least one object into the corresponding cavity, thereby filling the packaging.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step d) comprises stopping the supply of suction to the at least one prong. 
     
     
         16 . A system for filling a packaging having a plurality of cavities with objects, comprising:
 a container for receiving and containing the objects therein;   a vacuum supply for generating suction; and   a filling assembly comprising:
 a handle; 
   a manifold mounted about the handle and in fluid engagement with the vacuum supply for receiving suction;
 a valve operatively connected to the manifold and manually operable between a retain configuration wherein the valve is in an open position and suction is supplied to the manifold, and a release configuration wherein the valve is in a closed position and the manifold is free of suction; and 
 a plurality of prongs in fluid engagement with the manifold and extending therefrom, each prong configured for applying suction to a corresponding object in the container upon the valve being in the retain configuration, thereby retaining the object, and each prong configured for releasing the retained object in a corresponding cavity of the packaging upon the valve being in the release configuration, thereby filling the packaging. 
   
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of filling assemblies, the manifold of each filling assembly being in fluid engagement with the vacuum supply. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 16 , further comprising at least one conduit removably mountable to the manifold and the vacuum supply. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the manifold is oriented horizontally and comprises an outlet and a plurality of inlets, each inlet being in fluid engagement with a corresponding prong. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the valve is operatively connected to the handle and the outlet of the manifold. 
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the manifold is oriented vertically and comprises an outlet, and an inlet in fluid engagement with the plurality of prongs. 
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the valve is operatively connected to the manifold between the outlet and the inlet. 
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 21 , comprising a flexible tubing mounted to the outlet of the manifold for supplying suction, and further comprising a biasing element mounted about the flexible tubing for supporting the filling assembly. 
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the valve comprises a cylinder rotatably mounted within the manifold and rotatable between the retain and release configurations, and a tab extending from the cylinder for rotating the cylinder. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the valve comprises a push button with a spring. 
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of prongs are mounted to the manifold and spaced apart from one another such that each prong releases an object into a corresponding cavity of the packaging upon the valve being in the release configuration. 
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of prongs are mounted to the manifold and spaced equidistantly from each other along a length of the manifold. 
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of prongs is a nozzle extending from the manifold. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of prongs comprises at least two prongs. 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the packaging is a blister pack. 
     
     
         31 . A filling assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter comprising a plurality of secondary prongs that are shaped and sized to be removably connectable to extremities of the plurality of prongs of the filling assembly, thus creating an additional fluid connection therewith, wherein outlets at extremities of the secondary prongs are smaller in size than outlets of the extremities of the prongs of the filling assembly. 
     
     
         32 . A filling assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the adapter further comprises connecting members for removable connection of the adapter to necks of the prongs of the filling assembly. 
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 16 , further comprising an adapter comprising a plurality of secondary prongs that are shaped and sized to be removably connectable to extremities of the plurality of prongs of the filling assembly, thus creating an additional fluid connection therewith, wherein outlets at extremities of the secondary prongs are smaller in size than outlets of the extremities of the prongs of the filling assembly. 
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 33 , wherein the adapter further comprises connecting members for removable connection of the adapter to necks of the prongs of the filling assembly.