US Patent 7634847 Apparatus and method for manufacturing and assembling sterile containers

A system and method for manufacturing sterile containers such as specimen containers includes one or more moulding machines to manufacture vials and cooperating caps from thermoplastic materials. After moulding and cooling the vials and caps are transported under sterile conditions to an assembly station where the caps and vials are combined to form closed containers. By maintaining the sterile conditions between manufacture and assembly of the container parts, the interior of the container is also maintained sterile thereby avoiding the need for further, post production sterilization.