System, device and method for the manufacture and handling of a substantially pure object

Abstract

A method of manufacturing or handling a substantially pure object includes shielding the substantially pure object from the environment by substantially enveloping the object in a fluid. A system for manufacturing a substantially pure object includes a mold for forming the object, and a machine adapted to remove the object from the mold. The machine includes a handling device for gripping the object and removing it from the mold. The handling device includes at least one nozzle through which fluid is delivered to substantially envelope the object during, for example, removal of the object from the mold. The object may be a medical object, such as a syringe, or a component or part thereof, such as a syringe barrel or plunger. In a preferred aspect, a molding process is conducted in a room exhibiting less than Class 100 conditions and/or in such a way that the object does not need to be subsequently cleaned or rinsed, as by air or water washing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing or handling a substantially pure object, comprising: 
 shielding the substantially pure object from the environment by substantially enveloping it in a fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 molding the object in a mold; and    removing the object from the mold.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the shielding step occurs at least during removal of the object from the mold.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein object is a medical container or a component of a medical container.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a gas.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the gas is air, filtered air, conditioned air or deionized air.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises at least one sterilizing agent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shielding step occurs at least while the object is still in the mold.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the removing step is conducted by a machine.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the machine is a robotic machine.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the mold comprises an ejector mounted therein.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the removing step is conducted using a low starting speed.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the removing step is conducted before object cooling is complete.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the machine comprises at least one nozzle through which fluid is conveyed to substantially envelope the object.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mold comprises at least one nozzle through which fluid is conveyed to substantially envelope the object.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mold exhibits a surface that is treated to exhibit a minimum adhesive force.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shielding step further comprises substantially surrounding the object with a housing.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the housing is substantially bell shaped.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 conducting a further processing function on the object.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the further processing function comprises siliconizing the object.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the object is substantially enveloped by a fluid during subsequent handling and/or processing steps.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the shielding step further operates to cool the object.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the cooling effect is fast-cooling or slow-cooling.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 assembling one or more components with the object.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the object is a syringe barrel.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mold is disposed with a room not exceeding Class 100,000 conditions.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 siliconizing the object;    inspecting the object; and    packaging the object.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is adapted to influence the surface characteristics of the object.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the fluid hardens or dries a surface coating of the object.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the machine comprises a handling device for handling the object.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the handling device comprises at least one nozzle for discharging the fluid.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the handling device comprises a pair of grippers.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the handling device comprises a housing for substantially surrounding the object.  
     
     
         34 . A method of manufacturing a substantially pure object, consisting essentially of: 
 molding the object without the need for one or more subsequent cleaning steps.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the one or more subsequent cleaning steps comprises air or water cleaning steps.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the object comprises a syringe barrel.  
     
     
         37 . A method of manufacturing a substantially pure object, consisting essentially of: 
 molding the object with a molding machine located in a room not exceeding Class 1000 conditions.    
     
     
         38 . A system for manufacturing a substantially pure object, comprising 
 a mold for forming the object; and    a machine adapted to remove the object from the mold, the machine comprising a handling device for gripping the object and removing it from the mold, the handling device comprising at least one nozzle through which fluid is delivered to substantially envelope the object during removal of the object from the mold.    
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the handling device forms a housing for substantially surrounding the object.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the housing is substantially bell shaped.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising a source of fluid connected to the at least one nozzle.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising a filter associated with the fluid source.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the machine comprises a robotic arm and the handling device is positioned on the robotic arm.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the mold comprises a movable platen and a stationary platen.  
     
     
         46 . A method of manufacturing an object, comprising: 
 removing the object from a mold in a generally soft or semi-molten state; and    substantially enveloping the object in a fluid to cool the object.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the enveloping step is adapted to reduce cooling stresses in the object.