GB2066385A - Glove box posting system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a posting system for use with a glove box a sealing ring 7, carrying a plastics bag 11 to contain an object to be posted into the box, effects a seal within an entry port 1 to the box. The ring 7 can be stepped whereby a plurality of the rings can nest together. A housing 3 to receive a ring and bag is releasably secured to the port and means 4, 5, 6 are provided for axially displacing the ring and bag from the housing into the port. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glove box posting system This invention concerns a system for posting objects into closed containers such as glove boxes.

It is standard practice to employ a bag for posting an object into a glove box. The object is inserted into the bag and the open end of the bag is then secured about the entry port into the box to effect a seal. On opening the port cover the bag can be drawn into the box by an operator to deposit the article within the box. Thereafter, the bag is returned through the entry port and the port cover is resecured in position. The bag serves to isolate the interior of the box from the outside atmosphere when the cover is open to admit the object into the box. Likewise, an object can be posted out of the box in a similar fashion.

The present invention, while still utilising a bag, preferably a plastics bag, for posting an object seeks to provide a system which does not require the individual fitting and sealing of a bag by an operator during each posting operation.

According to the present invention a posting system tor a glove box or the like having an entry port for objects being posted comprises a hcusing releasably secured to the port outside the box, a sealing ring having the open end of a bag secured thereto slidable in the housing and means for axially displacing the ring carrying the bag from the housing into sealing engagement with the port whereby to effect a seal between the interior of the box and the atmosphere upon opening of a port cover to admit an object into the box.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic sectional view of a posting port system for a glove box.

Posting of objects into and out of a glove box (not shown) is through a port 1 which extends through a wall 2 of the box. The end of the port within the box is provided with a cover which can be opened and closed from within the box in known manner.

A hollow cylindrical housing 3 fits about the open end of the port 1. The end of the housing 3 is dimensioned to slidingly engage over the open end of the port and releasable locking lugs are provided for securing the housing to the end of the port. The closed end of the housing remote from the port is formed with a central screw-threaded bore 4 which receives a corresponding screwthreaded spindle 5. Within the housing the spindle is coupled to a cup-shaped sleeve 6. The end of the spindle outside the housing is provided with a capstan wheel or the like means for rotating the spindle. Rotation of the spindle effects an axial displacement of the sleeve 6 within the housing.

A sealing ring 7 is arranged within the housing at the leading end of the sleeve 6, that is the end of the sleeve adjacent the port. The ring can conveniently be a "Vulcathene" ring. As shown in the drawing the sleeve has a stepped configuration with a first annular portion 8 in sliding engagement with the bore 9 of the housing and an integral second annular portion 10 extending axially from the first portion in the direction of the glove box. The outer diameter of the second portion 10 is not greater than the inner diameter of the first portion whereby nesting of such rings can take place.

A bag 11, preferably a plastics bag for example PVC, is secured to the ring 7. The open end of the bag can be welded to the second portion 10 of the sealing ring.

It is to be noted that a reduced diameter portion or lip 12 is formed at the end of the port adjacent the housing. The diameter of the lip is substantially equal to and is not less than the outer diameter of the first portion 8 of the sealing ring.

In use, the housing is detached from the end of the port and the sleeve 6 is withdrawn towards the closed end of the housing. Sealing ring 7 with attached bag 11 is inserted into the open end of the housing and an object to be introduced into the box is deposited in the port. The housing is then attached to the end of the port and the spindle is rotated to displace the sleeve towards the glove box. In so doing, the sleeve pushes the sealing ring out of the housing to engage the lip 12 at the end of the tunnel. Thereafter, the sleeve can be withdrawn back into the housing 3.

The interior of the glove box is maintained at sub-atmospheric pressure so that any leaks are into the box. In addition, the end of the port adjacent the cover can be connected to a suction pump or the like so as to create a draught down the port towards the box. As a result, the plastics bag is sucked along the tunnel towards the glove box. On opening the cover at the end of the port within the box the object being posted can enter the box.

The procedure can be repeated to post further objects into the box. Each subsequent sealing ring will be pushed against the previously inserted ring to displace the latter from the lip and towards the glove box. The rings and attached bags are drawn into the box through the open cover, by the operator working from within the glove box.

The ring when in engagement with the lip provides a seal between the glove box and the atmosphere when the port cover is opened to admit the object being posted into the glove box.

The sealing surface of the ring, that is the radially outer face of the first portion can be formed with a plurality of shallow circumferential grooves.

As an alternative to the above arrangement for posting it is possible to insert the object into a reentrant sock formed by a fold in the bag. The object being posted is located in the fold and the edges of the fold are welded together to enclose the object. As before the sealing ring cooperates with the lip in the port to effect a seal on opening the port cover. The object can be removed from the fold by slitting open the bag from within the glove box.

It will be apparent that each newly inserted ring when pushed to the right as seen in the drawing will engage the previously inserted ring due to the cooperating annular portions of the rings. The previously inserted ring will be pushed clear of the lip 12 and replaced by the new ring but the previously inserted ring will still be supported on the replacement due to the nesting of the rings.

The associated bags can be slit open from within the box to allow the posting of each subsequent object as the rings are pushed step-by-step into the box. As a result of the invention it is no longer necessary for an operator to fit and seal a bag about the port. Sealing now takes place within the port and for posting in it is only necessary to release the housing to admit the combined sealing ring and bag together with the object to be posted into the box. On resecuring the housing to the port the sleeve is moved to push the sealing ring into engagement with the sealing lip in the port and the object is then posted into the box.

Claims (5)

1. A posting system for a glove box or the like having an entry port for objects being posted comprising a housing releasably secured to the port outside the box, a sealing ring having the open end of a bag secured thereto slidable in the housing and means for axially displacing the ring carrying the bag from the housing into sealing engagement with the port whereby to effect a seal between the interior of the box and the atmosphere.

2. A posting system as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing ring has a stepped configuration formed by first and second integral annular portions of different diameters with the outer diameter of the second portion not exceeding the inner diameter of the first portion whereby to allow resting of a plurality of the rings.

3. A posting system as claimed in claim 2 in which the bag is fixedly secured to the second portion.

4. A posting system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 including an annular lip at the end of the port adjacent the housing, the lip having a diameter not less than the outer diameter of the first portion of the ring.

5. A posting system for a glove box or the like substantially as herein described with reference to and as iilustrated in the accompanying drawing.