Method for prepressurizing dispensing container and for filling pressurized container with flowable product

• US 4,896,794 A
• Filed: 01/27/1989
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CCL Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enviro-Spray Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Moran, Michael, Banks, Gordon L., Obrist, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/303,030
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/95, 222/206, 222/214, 222/215, 222/105, 222/394, 222/399, 141/2, 141/3, 141/18, 141/20, 141/25, 141/26, 141/27, 53/432, 53/467, 53/470, 53/474
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A pressurization pouch having a pressurization system therein activated by the application of a vacuum underpressure to the outside surfaces of the pouch is inserted into a dispensing container through an opening in a lid portion of the container. Upon the sealing of the container by the attachment of a valve member to the container lid at the opening thereof, a vacuum generator is coupled to the valve member to generate negative pressure inside the dispensing container, thereby causing the pouch to expand under the pressure of a predetermined amount of air disposed therein. Upon that initial expansion, the pressurization pouch is further inflated owing to the action of the pressurization system. Upon complete inflation of the pressurization pouch, the pouch forms a liner in the dispensing container. A flowable product is then injected into the dispensing container through the valve member. The pouch comprises a pair of compartments releasably sealed and separated from one another by a seam having a sharp point formed by a pair of straight-line seam segments joining one another at an acute angle.

Claims

1. A method for prepressurizing a product dispensing container, comprising the steps of:

providing a pouch having a first compartment containing a first chemical reactant and a second compartment having a second reactant, said pouch being provided with releasable sealing means for releasably sealing said first compartment and said second compartment and for separating said first compartment and said second compartment from one another to prevent mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant, at least a portion of said pouch containing a predetermined quantity of a first gas;

inserting said pouch into said container;

closing said container; and

generating, before introducing any product into the container, at least a partial vacuum in said container to release said sealing means and expand said pouch under pressure from said gas, thereby enabling mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant to generate a predetermined quantity of a second gas for further expansion of said pouch and pressurization thereof to a predetermined pressure.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of closing said container comprises the step of attaching to said container a cap having an opening, a valve being mounted to said cap in said opening.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of generating a vacuum comprises the steps of connecting a vacuum source to said cap and drawing air from said container through said opening and said valve.

4. The method set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of injecting a dispensable product into said container through said opening upon completion of said step of generating.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of injecting is performed after expansion of pouch and pressurization thereof to said predetermined pressure.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said pouch includes a pair of sheets of metalized sythetic resin material, said compartments taking the form of pockets formed between said sheets, said sheets being permanently sealed to one another along peripheries thereof and temporarily sealed to one another along a seam dividing said pockets from one another to form said sealing means.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 wherein said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant are sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said first gas and said second gas are carbon dioxide.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said first gas is air and said second gas is carbon dioxide.

10. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said partial vacuum is at least 1/4 bar.

11. The method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting a dispensable product into said container upon completion of said step of generating.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of injecting comprises the step of pumping said product under pressure into said container.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of injecting is performed after expansion of pouch and pressurization thereof to said predetermined pressure.

14. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said pouch includes a pair of sheets of metalized sythetic resin material, said compartments taking the form of pockets formed between said sheets, said sheets being permanently sealed to one another along peripheries thereof and temporarily sealed to one another along a seam dividing said pockets from one another to form said sealing means.

15. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant are sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.

16. The method set forth in claim 15 wherein said first gas and said second gas are carbon dioxide.

17. The method set forth in claim 15 wherein said first gas is air and said second gas is carbon dioxide.

18. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said partial vacuum is at least 1/4 bar.

19. A method for prepressurizing a product dispensing container, comprising the steps of:

providing a sealed container holding a pouch having a first compartment containing a first chemical reactant and a second compartment having a second chemical reactant, said pouch being provided with releasable sealing means for releasably sealing said first compartment and said second compartment and for separating said first compartment and said second compartment from one another to prevent mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant, at least a portion of said pouch containing a predetermined quantity of a first gas;

before introducing any product into the container, generating at least a partial vacuum in said container to release said sealing means and expand said pouch under pressure from said gas, thereby enabling mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant to generate a predetermined quantity of a second gas for further expansion of said pouch and pressurization thereof to a predetermined pressure; and

injecting dispensable product into said container upon completion of said step of generating.

20. The method set forth in claim 19 wherein said container has a cap provided with an opening, a valve being mounted to said cap in said opening, said step of generating comprising the steps of connecting a vacuum source to said cap and drawing air from said container through said opening said valve, said step of injecting comprising the step of injecting comprising the step of injecting said dispensable product through said opening and said valve.

21. A method for prepressurizing a product dispensing container, comprising the steps of:

providing a pouch having pressurization means for generating a gas to expand said pouch and produce a predetermined pressure therein, said pouch further having activation means for activating said pressurization means, said activation means being itself activated by the application of a partial vacuum to outer surfaces of said pouch;

inserting said pouch into said container;

closing said container; and

generating at least a partial vacuum in said container to activate said activation means and expand said pouch under pressure from said gas before any product is introduced into the dispensing container.

22. The method set forth in claim 21 wherein said pouch has a first compartment and a second compartment, said pressurization means including a first chemical reactant disposed in said first compartment and a second chemical reactant disposed in said second compartment, said activation means comprising releasable sealing means provided in said pouch for releasably sealing said first compartment and said second compartment and for separating said first compartment and said second compartment from one another to prevent mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant, said activation means further comprising a predetermined quantity of a first gas disposed in said pouch.

23. The method set forth in claim 21 wherein said pouch comprises a pair of walls permanently sealed to one another along edges to form an enclosure, said walls being temporarily sealed directly to one another along a releasable seam to subdivide said enclosure into said first compartment and said second compartment, said seam constituting said releasable sealing means, said seam having a plurality of linear segments, at least two of said segments contiguous with one another extending at an acute angle with respect to one another.

24. The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said pouch has a first and a second longitudinal edge and a first and a second transverse edge, said seam including a first segment extending from said first longitudinal edge towards said second longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said seam further including a second segment extending from said second longitudinal edge towards said first longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said first and said second segment constituting said two of said segments.

25. The method set forth in claim 23 wherein the pouch has a first and a second longitudinal edge and a first and a second transverse edge, said seam including a first segment extending from said first transverse edge towards said second transverse edge in parallel to said first and said second longitudinal edge, said seam also including a second segment extending from said second transverse edge towards said first transverse edge in parallel to said first and said second longitudinal edge, said seam also including a third segment contiguous with said first segment and extending therefrom towards said second longitudinal edge and said second transverse edge, said seam further including a fourth segment contiguous with said second segment and extending therefrom towards said second longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said third and said fourth segment constituting said two of said segments.

26. A method for filling a dispensing container with a product, comprising the steps of:

providing a sealed container having a pressurized pouch therein;

injecting a flowable product into said container; and

collapsing said pressurized pouch through the introduction of said flowable product into said container, said step of collapsing taking place simultaneously with said step of injecting.

27. The method set forth in claim 26 wherein said container includes a cap having an opening, a valve being mounted to said cap in said opening, said flowable product being injected through said opening and said valve.

28. A method for filling a dispensing container with a product, comprising the steps of:

providing a sealed container holding a pressurized pouch, said container including a cap having an opening, a valve being mounted to said cap in said opening; and

injecting a flowable product into said container through said opening and said valve, and simultaneously collapsing said pouch;

said product being subsequently ejected by the expansion of said pressurized pouch when said valve is opened to atmosphere.

29. The method set forth in claim 28 wherein said step of injecting comprises the step of pumping said flowable product under pressure into said container.

30. An inflatable pouch insertable into a dispensing container, said pouch being provided with a pressure generating system for generating a dispensing pressure in said container to force a flowable product through an outlet of said container during a dispensing process, said pouch comprising a pair of walls permanently sealed to one another along edges to form an enclosure, said walls being temporarily sealed directly to one another along a releasable seam to subdivide said enclosure into at least two compartments, said seam being adapted to be released upon the application of a vacuum underpressure of a predetermined magnitude to external surfaces of the pouch, said pressure generating system comprising a first chemical reactant disposed in a first one of said compartments and a second chemical reactant disposed in another of said compartments, said pouch having a predetermined quantity of a gas disposed in said pouch.

31. An inflatable pouch insertable into a dispensing container, said pouch being provided with a pressure generating system for generating a dispensing pressure in said container to force a flowable product through an outlet of said container during a dispensing process, said pouch comprising a pair of walls permanently sealed to one another along edges to form an enclosure, said walls being temporarily sealed directly to one another along a releasable seam to subdivide said enclosure into at least two compartments, said seam having a plurality of linear segments, at least two of said segments contiguous with one another extending at an acute angle with respect to one another, said pressure generating system comprising a first chemical reactant disposed in a first one of said compartments and a second chemical reactant disposed in another of said compartments.

32. The inflatable pouch set forth in claim 31 wherein the pouch has a first and a second longitudinal edge and a first and a second transverse edge, said seam including a first segment extending from said first longitudinal edge towards said second longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said seam further including a second segment extending from said second longitudinal edge towards said first longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said first and said second segment constituting said two of said segments.

33. The inflatable pouch set forth in claim 31 wherein the pouch has a first and a second longitudinal edge and a first and a second transverse edge, said seam including a first segment extending from said first transverse edge towards said second transverse edge in parallel to said first and said second longitudinal edge, said seam also including a second segment extending from said second transverse edge towards said first transverse edge in parallel to said first and said second longitudinal edge, said seam also including a third segment contiguous with said first segment and extending therefrom towards said second longitudinal edge and said second transverse edge, said seam further including a fourth segment contiguous with said second segment and extending therefrom towards said second longitudinal edge and said first transverse edge, said third and said fourth segment constituting said two of said segments.

34. The inflatable pouch set forth in claim 31 wherein said pouch contains a predetermined amount of air for enabling a separation of said seam by application of a vacuum to external surfaces of said walls.

35. An inflatable pouch insertable into a dispensing container, comprising:

two wall portions permanently sealed to one another to form an enclosure space;

a releasable seal directly attaching said two walls and dividing said enclosure space into two regions, said pouch having

pressurization means for generating a gas, disposed in said enclosure space, to expand said pouch and produce a predetermined pressure therein and means for releasing said releasable seal by the application of a partial vacuum of a predetermined magnitude to outer surfaces of said pouch, thereby activating said pressurization means in said enclosure space, said releasable seal being capable of withstanding a negative pressure applied to said pouch up to 1/4 bar.

36. The pouch set forth in claim 35 wherein said pressurization means includes a first chemical reactant disposed in one of said two regions and a second chemical reactant disposed in the other of said two regions, said releasable seal pouch for releasable sealing and first compartment and said preventing a mixing of said first chemical reactant and said second chemical reactant, said means for releasing comprising a predetermined quantity of a first gas disposed in said pouch.