Devices for capping vials useful in system and method for dispensing prescriptions
View Patent ↗An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container includes a base and a plurality of blades, each of the blades including a sharp edge and being mounted to the base such that the sharp edge is exposed. The blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the sharp edges generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the sharp edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container. In this configuration, the apparatus can firmly hold the cap as the cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) is rotated to secure the cap onto the container.
1. An apparatus for facilitating the securing of a cap onto a cylindrical container, comprising:
a base; and
a plurality of blades with blade edges mounted to the base such that each of the blade edges is exposed;
wherein the blades are mounted in a generally circular arrangement, with the blades generally radiating from a central portion of the base, such that the blade edges are positioned to engage a circumferential edge of a cap as it is being secured to the cylindrical container; and
wherein the blades are mounted such that the blade edges slope slightly downwardly as they radiate from the central portion of the base;
wherein the blades define planes that are oriented at an oblique angle to an axis defined by the circular arrangement of the blades; and
wherein each of the blade edges includes a leading surface, and wherein the leading surface is substantially normal to a top surface of the cap when the blade edges contact the cap.
2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , further comprising a suction cup mounted to the central portion of the base.
3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the blade edges slope downwardly at an angle of between about 0.5 and 30 degrees relative to horizontal.
4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the base includes recesses in a lower surface thereof, and wherein the blades are mounted in the recesses.
5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades is six blades.
6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the blade edges forms an angle of between about 40 and 90 degrees.