Apparatus, method and flexible bag for use in manufacturing

• US 20030014945A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Danby, Hal C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/452
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 7/00 Baking plants
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/20 by volume measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/065 by punching out
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/042 for fluent material

Abstract

A method for manufacturing in which a fluent material is dispensed to an article such as a container from a flexible bag The fluent material is dispensed directly to the container without any intervening structure which contacts the fluent material. Accordingly, the apparatus can be constructed of less expensive materials and does not require frequent cleaning. The apparatus acts on the bag to dispense and does not act on the fluent material. Thus, the apparatus has particular application where aseptic conditions need to be maintained such as in the packaging of the food and medicine The flexible bag is preferably formed with multiple outlets permitting simultaneous dispensing to multiple containers.

Claims

1. A method of automatically filling containers with a fluent material for mass production of filled containers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an array of receiving members adapted to receive fluent material;

providing a flexible bag containing fluent material;

metering a charge of fluent material from the bag to plural ones of the receiving members at the same time.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising replacing the flexible bag with a new flexible bag filled with the fluent material.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of disposing of the replaced flexible bag.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of providing a flexible bag comprises providing a flexible bag having multiple outlets for dispensing the fluent material.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of metering a charge of fluent material comprises metering fluent material to the receiving members in at least one of different rates and different amounts.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of metering a charge of fluent material comprises dispensing a fixed amount of fluent material to the receiving members.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of metering a charge of fluent material comprises injecting fluent material into the receiving members.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising establishing relative motion between the array of receiving members and the bag whereby in the reference frame of the bag, the array of receiving members pass the bag.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing an array of receiving members comprises forming containers which receive the fluent material.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising closing the containers to hold the fluent material in the containers.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

forming the flexible reservoir;

filling the flexible reservoir with the fluent material;

sealing the reservoir.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of filling the flexible reservoir is carried out in an aseptic environment.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising sterilizing the reservoir and fluent material after said filling step.

20. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein subsequent to the sealing step and prior to the step of selectively dispensing fluent material, the method further comprises transporting the sealed reservoir to a different manufacturing facility.

21. A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising forming multiple outlets in the sealed reservoir for dispensing fluent material and wherein the step of dispensing includes independently deforming the flexible reservoir in regions adjacent the outlets.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21 further comprising squeezing the bag to force fluent material toward the regions adjacent the outlets.

23. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of dispensing fluent material further comprises dispensing fluent material to the articles in at least one of different rates and different quantities.

24. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of dispensing comprises metering a fixed amount of fluent material to the articles.

25. A method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising the steps of obtaining relative movement between the flexible reservoir of the fluent material and the articles to which the fluent material is to be dispensed whereby with respect to the reference frame of the flexible reservoir, the articles pass under the reservoir.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said metering means comprises a flow control device adapted to act on the flexible bag to produce flow of fluent material from the outlets in the bag

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 further comprising a bag squeezing device for moving fluent material in the bag generally toward the outlets.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 further comprising a conveyor for establishing relative motion between the receiving members and the bag whereby in the reference frame of the bag, the receiving members pass the bag;

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the conveyor is adapted to move the receiving members under the flexible bag.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said receiving members comprise containers, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a forming mechanism for forming an array of containers.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31 further comprising a closing mechanism for closing the containers to hold the fluent material in the containers.

5. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of providing a flexible bag comprises providing flexible bag having integral nipples, the outlets being associated with the nipples, and wherein the step of metering flowable material comprises squeezing and releasing at least one of the nipples to eject the charge of flowable material from the outlet.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of providing a flexible bag further comprises forming fitments in the outlets of the nipples.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of forming fitments comprises connecting injection devices to the nipples in the outlets.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of providing a flexible bag comprises forming the nipples as one piece with the flexible bag.

9. A method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising squeezing the bag to force fluent material into the nipples.

16. A method of dispensing a fluent material to articles which receive the fluent material in a manufacturing operation comprising the steps of:

selectively dispensing fluent material to plural ones of the articles at the same time by deforming a flexible reservoir to eject fluent material therefrom; and

replacing the flexible reservoir with another flexible reservoir upon substantial depletion of fluent material from the reservoir as a result of the dispensing step, for continued dispensing of the fluent material.

26. Apparatus for manufacturing fluent material receiving members having a fluent material applied thereto, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible bag containing the fluent material and having outlets therein from which fluent material may be dispensed;

means adapted to receive portions of the bag for metering a charge of fluent material from the bag to plural ones of the receiving members at the same time.

33. Apparatus for manufacturing articles having a fluent material applied thereto from a flexible bag containing the fluent material, the apparatus comprising:

a support adapted to releasably hold the flexible bag containing fluent material in position for dispensing to the articles;

a conveyor for moving the articles past the support for receiving fluent material from the flexible bag;

a flow control adapted to receive at least a portion of the flexible bag and to deform the bag to produce flow of fluent material out of the bag to the articles.

34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein the flow control is capable of squeezing and releasing the flexible bag to produce flow of fluent material.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the flow control has multiple receptacles for receiving different portions of the flexible bag to produce flow from the bag out of each of the different bag portions.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein the flow control is adapted to produce flow in at least one of different rates and different quantities from the different portions of the bag received in different receptacles.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 further comprising a bag squeezing device for moving fluent material in the bag generally toward the flow control.

38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein the articles comprise containers, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a sealing device in line with and downstream of the support for closing and sealing the containers after they are filled with the fluent material.

39. Apparatus as set forth in claim 38 further comprising a forming device in line with and upstream of the support for forming the containers.

40. Apparatus for manufacturing articles having a fluent material applied thereto, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible bag containing the fluent material and adapted to dispense fluent material to multiple ones of the articles at the same time;

a support adapted to releasably hold the flexible bag containing fluent material in position for dispensing to the articles;

a flow control adapted to receive multiple portions of the flexible bag and to deform the bag to produce flow of fluent material out of the bag to plural ones of the articles at the same time.

41. Apparatus as set forth in claim 40 wherein the flow control comprises a pump adapted to dispense predetermined charges of fluent material from the bag.

42. Apparatus as set forth in claim 41 wherein the pump comprises plural receptacles, each adapted to receive a different portion of the flexible bag, first and second spaced apart pinchers associated with each receptacle, each pincher having an extended position for closing off the bag portion to flow of fluent material past the pincher and a retracted position for opening the bag portion to flow of fluent material past the pincher, the first and second pinchers being adapted in their extended positions to define the charge of fluent material therebetween, and a shuttle adapted for squeezing the bag portion generally at a location between the pinchers for ejecting the fluent material from the bag.

43. Apparatus as set forth in claim 41 further comprising a bag squeezing device for moving fluent material in the bag generally toward the pump.

44. Apparatus as set forth in claim 40 further comprising a conveyor for transporting the articles past the support and flexible bag held by the support.

46. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 45 wherein the nipples are formed of the flexible material as one piece with the body.

47. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 46 wherein each nipple has a generally elongate, tubular shape.

48. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 47 wherein each nipple has an outlet therein for passage of fluent material out of the bag.

49. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 45 further comprising a hanger for hanging the bag.

50. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 49 wherein the hanger is formed integrally with the bag.

51. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 49 wherein the hanger is located on a side of the body opposite the nipples.

52. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 45 in combination with apparatus for dispensing fluent material from the bag, the apparatus comprising a flow control adapted to deform the bag for forcing material from the bag.

53. The combination as set forth in claim 52 wherein the flow control is adapted to receive plural portions of the bag, the flow control being adapted to separately deform the bag portions for dispensing fluent material to plural articles and the same time.

54. The combination as set forth in claim 53 wherein the apparatus further comprises a bag squeezing device for moving fluent material in the bag generally toward the flow control.

45. A flexible bag for use in dispensing a fluent material, the bag being formed of flexible material and shaped for substantially enclosing a volume for containing the fluent material, the bag comprising a body and plural nipples, each nipple being integral with the body and projecting outwardly from the body, the body and nipples being in fluid communication for movement of the fluent material from the body to the nipples.