WO2015193772A1

WO2015193772A1 - Procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2015193772A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/054392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Fontana
Original assignee: Lameplast SRL
Current assignee: Lameplast SRL
Priority date: 2014-06-20
Filing date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-20
Also published as: EP3157726A1

Abstract

The procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials comprises the steps of: providing a forming mold (7) having a plurality of female housings (8) and as many male elements (9), wherein the female housings (8) and the male elements (9) can be coupled together to define an interspace (10) for forming a strip (1) of vials (2); - injecting under pressure a first material in the fluid state within the interspace (10); hardening the first material within the interspace (10) to obtain a strip of semi-finished vials (11); modifying the shape of the interspace (10); - injecting under pressure a second material in the fluid state within the modified interspace (10) directly in contact with the strip of semi-finished vials (11); and hardening the second material within the modified interspace (10) by making the second material adhere to the strip of semi-finished vials (11).

Description

PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STRIPS OF VIALS FOR FLUID PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, COSMETIC, FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE LIKE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products or the like.

Background Art

With particular but not exclusive reference to the pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic industries, the use is known of vials made of plastic material, generally polymer material, for the packaging of one or more doses of fluid, liquid or pasty products.

The known vials generally comprise a containment body of a predetermined dose of product, of a substantially tubular and elongated shape, which has an end provided with a neck at the top of which is defined a product dispensing mouth.

The opposite end of the containment body has an opening able to introduce the product, which is closed after filling, e.g., by sealing.

Closing means, removably associable with the vials at the neck, allow occluding the dispensing mouth.

The containment body and the closing means can be made separately using forming techniques such as injection molding, and subsequently assembled together, or, alternatively, they can be made in a single body piece and subsequently separated before being used by a user.

The containment body also has a pair of fins which are able to make it easier for the user to grip the vial, and which extend, in a diametrically opposite direction the one to the other, from the outer lateral surface of the containment body itself.

For reasons of production and more convenient transport, the known vials in plastic material are usually made in series to form a so-called "strip"; the fins of the containment bodies of two successive vials are in fact temporarily associated with one another at easy-to-tear weakened-section connection lines, which permit separating one vial from another.

Strips of this type are shown, e.g., in patent document WO 2009/147484, wherein at the vial dispensing mouths, applicator elements are provided, which are spatula shaped or with other shape and which help the user to distribute the fluid product coming out of the dispensing mouths.

Such applicator elements can be made separately from the containment bodies or in a single body piece with them.

In the first case, however, it is underlined that the applicator elements and the containment bodies must be assembled after manufacturing, either by the manufacturer or by the end user and this, inconveniently, represents an additional operation.

In the second case, on the other hand, the applicator elements and the containment bodies must necessarily be made from a same material, and this is a big restriction as regards the operating versatility of the applicator elements, considering that the need is often felt to have containers with parts having different characteristics from others.

In this regard, it is underlined e.g., that in the medical field, the use is often required of sterile fluids such as medicinal products, pharmaceutical products, saline solutions and so on, to be injected intravenously into patients.

These sterile fluids are normally supplied in large glass or plastic bottles, which are chemically inert materials able to safeguard the sterility of the fluids contained in them.

The bottles are normally closed by means of a closing element called "stopper", which is inserted in the bottle access mouth.

The closing element is made of rubber to allow penetration by means of a pointed sampling element, such as, e.g., the needles of hypodermic syringes and the spikes of infusion lines, thereby permitting the sampling and exit of the sterile fluid.

Bottles of this type are described in EP 0 819 617, EP 1 044 135 and WO 2009/144553.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products and the like which allows, in an easy, functional and economical manner to make vials in the form of a strip which are of increased convenience and versatility of use with respect to the products of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products and the like, which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products and the like, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products and the like, illustrated as an indicative, but not limitative example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric, schematic and partial view of the forming mold, in the open configuration, provided in a first embodiment of the procedure according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric, schematic and partial view of the mold of Figure 1, in the closed configuration;

Figures 3 and 4 are axonometric, schematic and partial views which illustrate in sequence the operation of the mold of Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating in sequence the operation of a detail of the mold of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is an axonometric, partially sectional view of the strip of vials obtained from the mold of Figure 1; Figure 8 is an axonometric, schematic and partial view of the forming mold, in the open configuration, provided in a second embodiment of the procedure according to the invention;

Figure 9 is an axonometric, schematic and partial view of the mold of Figure 8, in the closed configuration;

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views illustrating in sequence the operation of a detail of the mold of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is an axonometric, partially sectional view of the strip of vials obtained from the mold of Figure 8.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such Figures, reference number 1 globally designates a strip of vials for fluid products obtainable through the manufacturing procedure according to the invention.

In this respect, it is specified that in the present treatise, by the term "fluid products" are not only meant liquid products but also viscous products, e.g., in the state of paste or gel, and powdered products, in particular very fine powders with great fluidity.

The strip 1, in practice, consists of a group of vials 2 integral with one another and joined along specific easy-to-tear weakened-section connection lines 3. Each vial 2 comprises:

a containment body 4 for at least a fluid product having an elongated direction D;

a first end 4a able to define a dispensing mouth 5 of the fluid product; and a second end 4b opposite the first end 4a.

Conveniently, the second ends 4b of the vials 2 obtained at the end of the present procedure are open and can be used as mouths for introducing the fluid product; the closing of the mouths is achievable, e.g., by crushing and sealing the relative edges and is done once the fluid product has been introduced, before introducing the strip 1 onto the market.

Each vial 2, furthermore, has at least a spacing fin 6, normally two, extending from the respective containment body 4 and which is associated with at least a spacing fin 6 of an adjacent vial 2 along one of the weakened-section connection lines 3.

To manufacture the strip 1, the procedure according the invention first of all comprises a step consisting in providing at least a forming mold 7 having a plurality of female housings 8 and as many male elements 9 arranged along corresponding longitudinal directions A, wherein the female housings 8 and the male elements 9 can be coupled together to define at least partially an interspace 10 for forming the strip 1.

The female housings 8, in practice, are intended to shape the outer surfaces of the strip 1, while the male elements 9 are intended to shape the inner surfaces thereof.

The longitudinal directions A of the male elements 9 are substantially parallel to one another and define the elongated direction D of the containment bodies 4 of the vials 2.

In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the strips 1 obtained by means of the procedure according to the invention have five vials 2 each, which are made by means of five female housings 8 and five male elements 9; it is easy to appreciate however that by changing the number of female housings 8 and of the male elements 9 strips 1 can be obtained with a different number of vials 2. To form the strips 1 within the forming mold 7 the procedure according to the invention comprises the following steps:

injecting under pressure a first material in the fluid state within the interspace 10;

making the first material harden within the interspace 10 to obtain a strip of semi-finished vials 11;

- modifying the shape of the interspace 10;

injecting under pressure a second material in the fluid state within the modified interspace 10 directly in contact with the strip of semi-finished vials 11;

making the second material harden within the modified interspace 10 by making the second material adhere to the strip of semi-finished vials 11 to obtain the strip 1 of finished vials having a first portion made of the first material and a second portion made of the second material. Conveniently, the step consisting in modifying the shape of the interspace 10 occurs at least at the first ends 4a of the vials 2; in this respect, it should be noticed that, in the present treatise, when it is said that the interspace 10 is modified at the first ends 4a it means that the shape is modified of that part of interspace 10 which is intended to shape the strips 1 in the proximity of the first ends 4a of the vials 2.

This way, at least the containment bodies 4 of the vials 2 are made of the first material to form a single monolithic body wherein the containment bodies 4 are joined together along the weakened-section connection lines 3, while the dispensing mouths 5 of the vials 2, i.e., those parts of the vials 2 which define the dispensing mouths 5, are made of the second material.

The first material preferably consists of a plastic material, e.g., a polymer material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

The second material, on the other hand, consists e.g. of a plastic material, e.g., a polymer material different from the first material, or of rubber.

Advantageously, the first material and the second material are compatible so as to adhere to one another when the second material is injected under pressure and made to harden directly in contact with the strip of semi-finished vials 11.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures 1 to 7, the forming mold 7 has a plurality of auxiliary male bodies 12 insertable in the female housings 8 at the first ends 4a of the vials 2.

The auxiliary male bodies 12 inserted in the female housings 8 are substantially aligned with the longitudinal directions A of the male elements 9.

More in detail, the forming mold 7 has:

- a first group 13 of female housings 8 and a first group 14 of auxiliary male bodies 12, which in practice define a first station 13, 14 of the forming mold

7;

a second group 15 of female housings 8 and a second group 16 of auxiliary male bodies 12, which in practice define a second station 15, 16 of the forming mold 7.

The first station 13, 14 has a different shape than the second station 15, 16.

In other words, the female housings 8 of the first group 13 have a different shape with respect to the female housings 8 of the second group 15 and/or the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14 have a different shape with respect to the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16.

In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, the female housings 8 of the first group 13 are substantially identical to the female housings 8 of the second group 15, while the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14 have a different shape with respect to the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16.

The auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14, in fact, have a first face 17 turned towards the male elements 9 which is protruding overhanging towards the male elements themselves; the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16, on the contrary, have a second face 18 turned towards the male elements 9 which is flat.

Such difference is clearly visible in Figure 2, which shows the forming mold 7 in a closed configuration without the first material, the second material and the strip of semi-finished vials 11 inside it; in this figure, we can see that the shape of the interspace 10 delimited by the female housings 8, the male elements 9 and the auxiliary male bodies 12 in the first station 13, 14 is different from that of the second station 15, 16.

It is easy to appreciate however that alternative embodiments are possible wherein the auxiliary male bodies 12 are all the same while the female housings 8 of the first group 13 have a different shape from the female housings 8 of the second group 15, or wherein both the auxiliary male bodies 12 and the female housings 8 of the various groups 13, 14, 15, 16 are different from one another. For each group 13, 15, the female housings 8 are obtained on two respective half-shells 19, 20 which can be opened; for easier representation, the Figures 1 to 4 show only one of the half-shells 19, 20 for each of the two groups 13, 15. Conveniently, each half-shell 19, 20 comprises a block 19, wherein the auxiliary male bodies 12 can be housed, and a matrix die 20, wherein instead the male elements 9 can be inserted.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the female housings 8 and the auxiliary male bodies 12 are mobile with respect to each other to allow opening the forming mold 7.

In particular, the auxiliary male bodies 12 are movable with respect to the blocks 19, which are integral with the matrix dies 20.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the auxiliary male bodies 12 are integral with the blocks 19 and, together with these, move with respect to the matrix dies 20.

In this latter case, e.g., embodiments are possible wherein the female housings 8 of the first group 13 and the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14 are made in a single body piece, and/or wherein the female housings 8 of the second group 15 and the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16 are made in a single body piece.

For example, in fact, the blocks 19 may be shaped so as to integrate the auxiliary male bodies 12 in a single monolithic body.

The step of the procedure that consists in modifying the shape of the interspace 10 comprises moving the male elements 9 from the first station 13, 14, wherein the male elements 9 are inserted in the female housings 8 of the first group 13 together with the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14, to the second station 15, 16, wherein the male elements 9 are inserted in the female housings 8 of the second group 15 together with the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16.

In detail, the forming mold 7 has a first group 21 of male elements 9 and a second group 22 of male elements 9 alternately movable between the first station 13, 14 and the second station 15, 16.

The first group 21 and the second group 22 of male elements 9, e.g., are mounted on the same male-bearing element 23.

The male-bearing element 23, e.g., consists of a plate on which the male elements 9 of the first group 21 and the male elements 9 of the second group 22 are mounted with the longitudinal directions A substantially orthogonal to the plate itself.

The plate 23 is movable at least in rotation around an axis of rotation R substantially parallel to the longitudinal directions A.

The step of the procedure that consists in moving the male elements 9 comprises moving the male elements 9 of the first group 21 from the first station 13, 14 to the second station 15, 16 and simultaneously moving the male elements 9 of the second group 22 from the second station 15, 16 to the first station 13, 14, and vice versa.

Such step occurs, e.g., by making the plate 23 rotate around the axis of rotation R.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures 1 to 8, the step of injecting under pressure the first material occurs at the first station 13, 14 while the step of injecting the second material occurs at the second station 15, 16.

To form a new strip 1 of vials 2, the forming mold 7 is closed and the first material is injected into the first station 13, 14.

A detail of the interspace 10 delimited by the female housings 8 of the first group 13, by the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the first group 14 and by the male elements 9 in the first station 13, 14 is shown in detail in Figure 5, from which it can be seen that a part of the inner surface of the vials 2 is shaped by the first faces 17.

When the forming mold 7 (Figure 3) is opened, from the first station 13, 14 comes out the strip of semi-finished vials 11 made of the first material, which remains fitted on the male elements 9 to be transferred to the second station 15, 16.

The movement of the strip of semi-finished vials 11 occurs by making the plate 23 rotate around the axis of rotation R (Figure 4).

When the strip of semi-finished vials 11 and the relative male elements 9 reach the second station 15, 16, the forming mold 7 is closed again and the second material is injected into the second station 15, 16.

A detail of the interspace 10 delimited by the female housings 8 of the second group 15, by the auxiliary male bodies 12 of the second group 16 and by the male elements 9 in the second station 15, 16 is shown in detail in Figure 6, from which it can be seen that most of the interspace itself is occupied by the strip of semi-finished vials 11, except for the portions near the first ends 4a, where the different shape of the second faces 18 with respect to the first faces 17 defines an additional space 26 into which the second material is injected. When the forming mold 7 is next opened, the strip 1 of finished vials remains on the male elements 9.

Taking into account the fact that the male elements 9 are split up into two interchangeable groups 21, 22, the two stations 13, 14, 15, 16 always receive one of the two groups 21, 22 of male elements 9 and the injection of the first material into the first station 13, 14 occurs at the same time as the injection of the second material into the second station 15, 16.

Figure 3, for example, shows a situation wherein, when the forming mold 7 is opened, a strip of semi-finished vials 11 comes out, fitted over the male elements 9 of the first group 21, together with a strip 1 of finished vials, extracted from the male elements 9 of the second group 22.

In Figure 4 the male elements 9 of the first group 21 and the relative strip of semi-finished vials 11 move from the first station 13, 14 to the second station 15, 16, while the male elements 9 of the second group 22 move from the second station 15, 16 to the first station 13, 14.

When the forming mold 7 is next opened therefore, a situation exists like that shown in Figure 3, with the difference that from the male elements 9 of the first group 21 a strip 1 of finished vials is extracted while on the male elements 9 of the second group 22 a strip of semi-finished vials 11 remains fitted.

The strip 1 of finished vials obtained at the end of the procedure is shown in detail in Figure 7.

Conveniently, the second material injected into the second station 15, 16 consists of a penetrable material, of the rubber type or the like, able to be crossed by a needle or the like; this way, at the end of the procedure, the second portions of the vials 2 made of such second material consist of a stopper 24.

The strip 1 can therefore be conveniently used to contain sterile fluids such as medicinal products, pharmaceutical products and saline solutions, and so on, to be injected intravenously into patients and which can be taken from the vials 2 by means of a needle that crosses the stopper 24.

It is easy to appreciate however that the forming mold 7 shown in the Figures can be adapted so that the second portion of the vials 2 made of the second material consists in an applicator element of the type, e.g., of a spatula, a silky head, a brush, a comb or the like.

The Figures 8 to 12 show an alternative embodiment of the procedure according to the invention.

In this embodiment as well, the forming mold 7 continues to have a plurality of auxiliary male bodies 12 insertable in the female housings 8 at the first ends 4a of the vials 2 and substantially aligned with the longitudinal directions A of the male elements 9.

Unlike what occurs in the forming mold 7 of the Figures 1 to 7, nevertheless, first groups 13, 15, 21 and second groups 14, 16, 22 are no longer provided of female housings 8, of auxiliary male bodies 12 and of male elements 9.

For the manufacture of the strip 1, in fact, the forming mold 7 has only one group of female housings 8, only one group of auxiliary male bodies 12 and only one group of male elements 9.

The female housings 8 are obtained on two respective half-shells 19, 20 that can be opened; for simplicity of representation in Figures 8 and 9 only one of the half-shells 19, 20 is shown.

Conveniently, each half-shell 19, 20 comprises a block 19, wherein the auxiliary male bodies 12can be accommodated, and a matrix die 20, wherein on the contrary the male elements 9 can be inserted.

Each block 19 is integral with the corresponding matrix die 20.

The male elements 9 are mounted on a male-bearing element 23 while the auxiliary male bodies 12 are mounted on a corresponding male-bearing member 25.

The male-bearing element 23, e.g., consists of a plate or the like on which the male elements 9 are mounted with the longitudinal directions A substantially orthogonal to the plate itself.

The male-bearing member 25, on the other hand, consists in a transversal support on which the auxiliary male bodies 12 are mounted substantially parallel to the longitudinal directions A.

The auxiliary male bodies 12 are movable together with the male-bearing member 25, along the female housings 8.

By so doing, the step that consists in modifying the shape of the interspace 10 comprises moving the auxiliary male bodies 12 from a first position close to the male elements 9 to a second position spaced away from the male elements 9, the spacing away of the auxiliary male bodies 12 being able to define an additional space 26 in the interspace 10 for the introduction of the second material.

The movement of the auxiliary male bodies 12 comprises translating the auxiliary male bodies 12 along the longitudinal directions A.

Conveniently, in the first position the auxiliary male bodies 12 are in head-to- head contact with the male elements 9, while in the second position they are detached from the male elements 9.

In this respect, the fact is underlined that a face 27 of the auxiliary male bodies 12 is turned towards the male elements 9 and protrudes overhanging towards the male elements themselves.

To form a new strip 1 of vials 2, the forming mold 7 is closed by collocating the auxiliary male bodies 12 in the first position and the first material is injected. A detail of the interspace 10 delimited by the female housings 8, by the male elements 9 and by the auxiliary male bodies 12 in the first position is shown in detail in Figure 10, from which it is possible to note that a part of the inner surface of the vials 2 is shaped by the faces 27.

Once the first material has been injected and left to harden, the forming mold 7 remains closed and houses the strip of semi-finished vials 11 made of the first material.

At this point, the auxiliary male bodies 12 move from the first position to the second position.

A detail of the interspace 10 delimited by the female housings 8, by the male elements 9 and by the auxiliary male bodies 12 in the second position is shown in detail in Figure 11, in which it is possible to see that most part of the interspace itself is occupied by the strip of semi-finished vials 11, except for the portions close to the first ends 4a, where the moving away of the auxiliary male bodies 12 determines the formation of the additional space 26 into which the second material is injected.

When the forming mold 7 is opened, the strip 1 of finished vials is therefore obtained shown in detail in Figure 12. Conveniently, even in this case the second material injected in the interspace 10 consists of a penetrable material, of the rubber type or the like, able to be crossed by a needle or the like and, at the end of the procedure, the second portions of the vials 2 made of such second material consist of a stopper 24. It has in practice been observed how the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In this respect, the fact is underlined that the particular solution of providing a step of modification of the shape of the forming interspace inside the mold permits manufacturing, in a single operation, a strip of vials having a first portion made of a first material and a second portion made of a second material. In detail, thanks to the procedure according to the invention, it is possible to obtain, in an easy, functional and inexpensive way, a strip of vials having a stopper that can be penetrated by a needle.

Claims

1) Procedure for the manufacture of strips of vials for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products or the like, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- providing at least a forming mold (7) having a plurality of female housings (8) and as many male elements (9) arranged along corresponding longitudinal directions (A), wherein said female housings (8) and said male elements (9) can be coupled together to define at least partially an interspace (10) for forming a strip (1) of vials (2), each of which comprising:

at least a containment body (4) for at least a fluid product having an elongated direction (D) defined by said longitudinal directions (A) of the male elements (9);

a first end (4a) able to define a dispensing mouth (5) of said fluid product; and

a second end (4b) opposite said first end (4a);

injecting under pressure a first material in the fluid state within said interspace (10);

hardening said first material within said interspace (10) to obtain a strip of semi-finished vials (11);

modifying the shape of said interspace (10);

injecting under pressure a second material in the fluid state within said modified interspace (10) directly in contact with said strip of semi-finished vials (11);

- hardening said second material within said modified interspace (10) by making said second material adhere to said strip of semi-finished vials (11) to obtain a strip (1) of finished vials having a first portion of said first material and a second portion of said second material.

2) Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that said modifying the shape of the interspace (10) occurs at least at said first ends (4a) of the vials (2), said dispensing mouths (5) being made of said second material.

3) Procedure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said forming mold (7) has a plurality of auxiliary male bodies (12) insertable in said female housings (8) at said first ends (4a) of the vials.

4) Procedure according to claim 3, characterized in that said auxiliary male bodies (12) inserted in said female housings (8) are substantially aligned with said longitudinal directions (A).

5) Procedure according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that:

said forming mold (7) has a first group (13) of said female housings (8), a first group (14) of said auxiliary male bodies (12), a second group (15) of said female housings (8), and a second group (16) of said auxiliary male bodies (12), wherein said female housings (8) of the first group (13) have a different shape with respect to said female housings (8) of the second group (15) and/or wherein said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the first group (14) have a different shape with respect to said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the second group (16); and

- said modifying the shape of the interspace (10) comprises moving said male elements (9) from a first station (13, 14), wherein said male elements (9) are inserted in said female housings (8) of the first group (13) together with said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the first group (14), to a second station (15, 16), wherein said male elements (9) are inserted in said female housings (8) of the second group (15) together with said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the second group (16).

6) Procedure according to claim 5, characterized in that:

said forming mold (7) has a first group (21) of said male elements (9) and a second group (22) of said male elements (9) alternately movable between said first station (13, 14) and said second station (15, 16); and

said moving the male elements (9) comprises moving said male elements (9) of the first group (21) from said first station (13, 14) to said second station (15, 16) and simultaneously moving said male elements (9) of the second group (22) from said second station (15, 16) to said first station (13, 14), and vice versa.

7) Procedure according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said female housings (8) of the first group (13) are substantially identical to said female housings (8) of the second group (15), said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the first group (14) having a different shape with respect to said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the second group (16).

8) Procedure according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said female housings (8) of the first group (13) and said auxiliary male bodies

(12) of the first group (14) are made in a single body piece.

9) Procedure according to one or more of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said female housings (8) of the second group (15) and said auxiliary male bodies (12) of the second group (16) are made in a single body piece.

10) Procedure according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said modifying the shape of the interspace (10) comprises moving said auxiliary male bodies (12) from a first position close to said male elements (9) to a second position spaced away from said male elements (9), the spacing away of said auxiliary male bodies (12) being able to define an additional space (26) in said interspace ( 10) for the introduction of said second material.

11) Procedure according to claim 10, characterized in that said moving the auxiliary male bodies (12) comprises translating said auxiliary male bodies (12) along said longitudinal directions (A).

12) Procedure according to claim 11, characterized in that in said first position said auxiliary male bodies (12) are in head-to-head contact with said male elements (9), and in said second position said auxiliary male bodies (12) are detached from said male elements (9).

13) Procedure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second material is a penetrable material able to be crossed by a needle or the like, said second portions of the vials (2) consisting in a stopper (24).