Flow control apparatus for use in dispensing fluent material

• US 20040094573A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• 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:
  US10/706,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094573A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/102
• 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 flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags comprises first, second, and third platens mounted on a frame for movement relative to each other. The first and second platens are adapted to receive portions a flexible bag therebetween, and the first and third platens are adapted to receive portions of a flexible bag therebetween. The first platen is 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 the bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a second smaller space for containing the bag portions.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. A flow control as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least two groove pairs have different widths.

5. A flow control as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.

6. A flow control as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.