Apparatus, flexible bag and method for dispensing

• US 20030017066A1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilcox, Alun, Danby, Hal C.
• Application Number:
  US10/156,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/474
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0001 by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers B67D1/0462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/045 using elastic bags and pistons actuated by air or other gas
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/108 of the peristaltic type
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1231 Metering pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0216 by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers B67D7/0255 takes precedence; for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0255 squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0462
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing a fluent material such as a beverage. The fluent material is dispensed directly from a flexible bag to a 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 has particular application where aseptic conditions need to be maintained such as in the packaging of the food and medicine. A flow control is adapted to receive at least a portion of one flexible bag and to deform the bag to produce flow of fluent material out of the bag without contact of the fluent material by the flow control.

Claims

1. A merchandiser for selectively dispensing fluent material from a flexible bag of fluent material, the merchandiser comprising:

a mount for supporting at least one flexible bag of fluent material;

a flow control adapted to receive at least a portion of said one flexible bag and to deform the bag to produce flow of fluent material out of the bag without contact of the fluent material by the flow control;

a selector for actuation by a customer to initiate operation of the flow control to dispense a selected fluent material.

2. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the selector is coin operated.

3. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 2 wherein the selector includes selection indicators adapted for manipulation by the customer to select from at least two different operation modes of the flow control to dispense fluent material.

4. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a cabinet having an interior compartment, the mount being located in the interior compartment.

5. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cabinet is sized and shaped for receiving multiple flexible bags of fluent material and the flow control is adapted to receive portions of more than one of the flexible bags, and wherein the selection indicators are capable of selecting modes of operation of the flow control which differ in at least one of the following ways:

the amount of fluent material dispensed and the flexible bag or bags from which fluent material is dispensed.

6. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 5 wherein in at least one of the modes of operation the flow control is adapted to dispense fluent material from at least two flexible bags at the same time.

7. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 6 wherein the flow control is adapted to dispense fluent material from one of the flexible bags in all modes of operation of the flow control.

8. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mount is adapted to support multiple flexible bags of fluent material, and the flow control is adapted to receive portions of the flexible bags simultaneously.

9. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flow control comprises a shuttle pump including a first platen and a second platen in generally opposed relation with the first platen, the first and second platens being adapted to receive said flexible bag portions therebetween and for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space.

10. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a cabinet, the mount being located in the cabinet, and wherein the second platen is mounted in fixed position relative to the cabinet, and the first platen is mounted for movement relative to the cabinet and second platen.

11. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a third platen mounted in fixed position relative to the cabinet in generally opposed relation with the first platen, the first and third platens being adapted to receive said flexible bag portions therebetween, the first platen being movable between a first position in which the first and third platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and third platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space.

12. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first platen comprises multiple first platen elements each being mounted for movement relative to the other first platen elements and relative to the second platen between said first and second positions, the second platen and each of the first platen elements being adapted to receive a respective one of said bag portions.

13. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first and second platens each have grooves therein for receiving said bag portions, the grooves of the first and second platens being arranged in pairs generally in registration in the first position of the first and second platens and at least partially out of registration in the second position, the length of the grooves of at least one groove pair being different than the length of the grooves of at least one of the other groove pairs for dispensing a different quantity of the fluent material.

14. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 13 wherein at least two groove pairs have different widths.

15. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first and second platens each have grooves therein for receiving said bag portions, the grooves of the first and second platens being arranged in pairs generally in registration in the first position of the first and second platens and at least partially out of registration in the second position, the width of the grooves of at least one groove pair being different than the width of the grooves of at least one of the other groove pairs for dispensing a different quantity of the fluent material.

16. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 wherein the flow control further comprises, first and second pinchers located generally on opposite sides of the first and second platens for engaging parts of one of the flexible bag portions, each pincher having a closing position for closing off the bag portion to flow of fluent material past the pincher and an opening position for opening the bag portion to flow of fluent material past the pincher.

17. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first and second platens are adapted for relative movement to a third position in which the first and second platens define a third space for containing said bag portions, said third space being smaller than said first space and larger than said second space.

18. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cabinet, the mount being located in the cabinet and adapted for sliding reception of multiple flexible bags into the cabinet in side-by-side position, and for sliding removal of the flexible bags from the cabinet.

19. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 1 in combination with multiple flexible bags, and further comprising a cabinet sized and shaped for receiving multiple flexible bags of fluent material, and wherein the flow control is adapted to simultaneously receive portions of the flexible bags, each flexible bag comprising a body and at least one nipple extending from the bag, the nipple being at least partially received by the flow control.

20. A merchandiser in combination with the flexible bags as set forth in claim 19 wherein the flexible bags each comprise a plug device adapted for resealably closing an open end of the nipple.

21. A merchandiser in combination with the flexible bags as set forth in claim 19 wherein the flexible bags comprise multiple nipples, at least two of the nipples having a different internal volume for dispensing different quantities of fluent material.

22. 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, projecting outwardly from the body, and having an open outer end, the body and nipples being in fluid communication for movement of the fluent material from the body to the nipples, and plugs including a plug for each of the nipples for resealably closing the open ends of said nipples.

23. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 wherein the plugs are connected together by a stringer and collectively define a plug device.

24. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 wherein the nipples are formed of the flexible material as one piece with the body.

25. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a hanger for hanging the bag, the hanger comprising a flat region of the bag on a side of the bag generally opposite the nipples, the flat region having at least one opening therein.

26. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 wherein at least some of the nipples have different internal volumes for use in delivering different quantities of fluent material.

27. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 26 wherein the nipples are generally cylindric in shape and at least some of the nipples have different diameters.

28. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a check valve located in the outer end of each of the nipples.

29. A flexible bag as set forth in claim 22 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.

30. A beverage dispenser capable of dispensing a beverage in the form of a mixture of fluent beverage components, the beverage dispenser comprising:

a mount adapted to support multiple flexible bags containing fluent beverage components;

a flow control adapted to receive at least a portion of each of the flexible bags and to deform the bags to produce flow of fluent beverage components out of the bags without contact of the fluent beverage components by the flow control; and

a selector for actuation by a customer to select a desired beverage thereby initiating operation of the flow control to dispense fluent beverage components.

31. A beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 30 wherein the flow control is constructed and arranged to permit mixing of fluent material from different flexible bags upon discharge from the flow control.

32. A beverage dispenser as set forth in claim 31 in combination with the flexible bags, the fluent material in at least one of the bags comprises a base liquid and the fluent material in at least two other bags comprises flavoring added to the base liquid upon actuation of the flow control.

33. A method of dispensing a fluent material to articles which receive the fluent material comprising the steps of:

selectively dispensing fluent material to the articles through open ends of nipples of a first flexible bag positioned for dispensing fluent material to the articles by deforming the nipples to eject fluent material therefrom;

sealing the open ends of the nipples of the first flexible bag;

positioning a second flexible bag having nipples for dispensing fluent material from the nipples to the articles;

selectively dispensing fluent material to the articles through open ends of the nipples of second flexible bag by deforming the nipples to eject fluent material therefrom.

34. A method of dispensing a fluent material as set forth in claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

sealing the open ends of the nipples of the second flexible bag;

positioning the first flexible bag for dispensing fluent material from the nipples to the articles;

unsealing the open ends of the nipples of the first flexible bag;

selectively dispensing additional fluent material to the articles through open ends of the nipples of the first flexible bag.

35. A method of dispensing fluent material as set forth in claim 33 wherein said step of sealing the open ends of the nipples of the first flexible bag comprises inserting removable plugs into the open ends of the nipples.

36. A method as set forth in claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

forming the flexible bag;

filling the flexible bag with the fluent material;

sealing the flexible bag by inserting the removable plugs.

37. A method as set forth in claim 36 wherein the step of filling the flexible bag is carried out in an aseptic environment.

38. A method as set forth in claim 36 further comprising sterilizing the flexible bag and fluent material after said filling step.

39. A method as set forth in claim 36 wherein subsequent to the sealing step and prior to the step of selectively dispensing fluent material, the method further comprises transporting the sealed flexible bag to a different location.

40. A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising:

a frame;

a first platen mounted on the frame;

a second platen mounted on the frame;

a third platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween, and the first and third platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween,

the first, second and third platens being mounted for movement relative to each other, the first platen being movable between a first position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space.

41. A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising:

a frame;

a first platen mounted on the frame;

a second platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween and for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space;

the first platen comprising multiple first platen elements each being mounted for movement relative to the other first platen elements and relative to the second platen between said first and second positions, the second platen and each of the first platen elements being adapted to receive a respective one of said bag portions.

42. A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising:

a frame;

a first platen mounted on the frame;

a second platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween and for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space;

the first and-second platens each have grooves therein for receiving said bag portions, the grooves of the first and second platens being arranged in pairs generally in registration in the first position of the first and second platens and at least partially out of registration in the second position, the volume of the grooves of at least one groove pair being different than the volume of the grooves of at least one of the other groove pairs for dispensing a different quantity of the fluent material.

43. A flow control as set forth in claim 42 wherein at least two groove pairs have different widths.

44. A flow control as set forth in claim 43 wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.

45. A flow control as set forth in claim 42 wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.

46. Apparatus for dispensing fluent material in a mixture of fluent components, the apparatus comprising:

a mount adapted to support multiple flexible bags containing fluent components;

a flow control adapted to receive at least a portion of each of the flexible bags and to deform the bags to produce flow of fluent components out of the bags without contact of the fluent components by the flow control, the flow control being constructed and arranged to permit mixing of fluent material from different flexible bags upon discharge from the flow control.