Liquid dispenser and flexible bag therefor
First Claim
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1. A flexible container for delivery of metered quantities of fluent material therefrom, the container comprising:
- a first flexible sheet;
a second flexible sheet at least partially in opposed relationship with the first sheet such that the first and second sheets define a volume capable of holding the fluent material;
a manifold located between the first and second sheets, the manifold including passage elements comprising spaced apart, opposing walls extending between sides of the manifold, at least portions of the manifold at the sides between the opposing walls being open, the walls including at least one region in which the walls diverge and converge with respect to each other to define a valve window in the passage element;
the first and second flexible sheets being sealingly attached to the manifold over opposite ones of said open sides of the manifold thereby to define with the walls a passage for the fluent material within the manifold, at least one of the first and second flexible sheets being elastically deformable at the valve window to a position between the walls for occluding the passage at the valve window.
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Abstract
A liquid dispenser uses a flexible bag having expansible and collapsible cells. A rigid manifold is provided in the bag to keep passages open in use and to isolate one of the cells from the remaining cells. In one application, a concentrated drink mix may be held in a reservoir and diluted within other cells in the bag for dispensing to a cup or the like. A valve system allows for the particulates in the liquid without compromising the function of the valve.
110 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A flexible container for delivery of metered quantities of fluent material therefrom, the container comprising:
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a first flexible sheet;
a second flexible sheet at least partially in opposed relationship with the first sheet such that the first and second sheets define a volume capable of holding the fluent material;
a manifold located between the first and second sheets, the manifold including passage elements comprising spaced apart, opposing walls extending between sides of the manifold, at least portions of the manifold at the sides between the opposing walls being open, the walls including at least one region in which the walls diverge and converge with respect to each other to define a valve window in the passage element;
the first and second flexible sheets being sealingly attached to the manifold over opposite ones of said open sides of the manifold thereby to define with the walls a passage for the fluent material within the manifold, at least one of the first and second flexible sheets being elastically deformable at the valve window to a position between the walls for occluding the passage at the valve window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A flow control apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluent material from a flexible container by acting on the container, the flow control apparatus comprising:
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a shell sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the flexible container therein;
a valve including a valve head disposed for movement relative to the shell between an open position in which fluent material may flow within the flexible container past the location of the valve head and a closed position in which fluent material is blocked from flowing within the flexible container past the location of the valve head, the valve head including a compliant tip adapted to resiliently deform for at least partially enveloping and sealing around particulate matter in the fluent material to inhibit leaking of fluent material past the valve head, the compliant tip of the valve head engaging the container in the closed position to stop the flow of fluent material. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A drink dispenser comprising:
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a flexible bag comprising a first sheet and a second sheet and a manifold received between the first and second sheet, the first and second sheets being joined together to define plural cells capable of containing liquid, the plural cells including a reservoir cell containing a concentrated drink liquid, a first dosing cell for receiving a volume of concentrated drink liquid to be diluted, a second dosing cell for receiving a volume of a diluent for diluting the concentrated drink liquid for consumption, and first and second mixing cells for receiving the volumes of concentrated drink liquid and diluent from the first and second dosing cells to mix the concentrated drink liquid and the diluent, the flexible bag further comprising a manifold defining a passage connecting in fluid communication the reservoir cell and the first dosing cell, the manifold defining a passage for delivering concentrated drink liquid from the reservoir cell to the first dosing cell, the passage including two branches for selectively delivering concentrated drink liquid and diluent from the first and second dosing cells to the first mixing cell and to the second mixing cell;
a flow control apparatus at least partially receiving the flexible bag, the flow control apparatus including valves arranged for engaging the flexible bag for deforming at least one of the first and second sheets to selectively occlude portions of the passage, and a controller for operating the valves to alternately block the passage branch to the second mixing cell while leaving the branch to the first mixing cell open for delivery of concentrated drink liquid and diluent from the first and second dosing cells to the first mixing cell, and block the passage branch to the first mixing cell while leaving the branch to the second mixing cell open for delivery of concentrated drink liquid and diluent from the first and second dosing cells to the second mixing cell. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification