Method of preparing a closure for container for holding biological samples
A closure for a container, e.g., a tube, for a sample, e.g., a biological sample. The closure comprises a cap having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening capable of communicating with the mouth of a container, the second opening sealed by an exterior seal, and intermediate the first opening and the exterior seal, an interior seal. The invention also provides an assembly comprising the closure of this invention and a container. The invention also provides a method for preparing the closure.
1. A method for preparing a closure comprising a cap, an interior seal and an exterior seal, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an apparatus having a mold zone, the mold zone comprising a molding unit, said molding unit comprising (1) at least one cavity half and at least one core half, the at least one cavity half comprising a mold cavity, and the at least one core half comprising a mold core, (2) a punch, and (3) a die;
(b) providing a web comprising a material for preparing the interior seal of the closure;
(c) indexing a portion of the web to the mold zone, so that the punch and the die are aligned with the portion of the web in the molding unit;
(d) closing the molding unit, thereby enabling the punch and the die to cut the material of the web for forming the interior seal of the closure;
(e) allowing the cut material of the web to be maintained on the mold core until the termination of a first molding cycle;
(f) introducing polymeric material into the closed molding unit, so as to allow the cut material of the web to adhere to the polymeric material introduced into the closed molding unit;
(g) opening the molding unit while allowing the assembly of the cap and the interior seal of the closure to remain on the mold core;
(h) positioning the mold core to enable introduction of polymeric material into the molding unit so as to form the exterior seal of the closure in a second molding cycle;
(i) closing the molding unit;
(j) introducing polymeric material into the closed molding unit; and
(k) opening the molding unit and removing the closure from the mold core.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said molding unit comprises a plurality of core halves and a plurality of cavity halves.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said molding unit comprises a first cavity half, a second cavity half, a first core half, and a second core half, and said first core half and said second core half switch positions after the first molding cycle and before the second molding cycle.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric materials are introduced into said molding unit by injection.