Silicone bag assembly manufacturing apparatus

• US 6,632,164 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Warburton-Pitt, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/406,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 493/186, 493/210, 493/213, 493/215, 493/264, 493/386, 383/107, 383/108, 156/290, 156/291, 604/408
• US Class Current: 493/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/305 involving the use of cartridge heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4835 Heat curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/524 by applying the adhesive from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface of the part to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/54 between pre-assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/133 Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/24221 being circular B29C66/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43121 Closing the ends of tubular or hollow single articles, e.g. closing the ends of bags closing tube ends B29C57/10
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53262 Enclosing spouts between the walls of bags, e.g. of medical bags
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8161 said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83523 Cooperating jaws mounted on cooperating bands or belts and moving in a closed path
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8432 Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7148 Blood bags, medical bags
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/844 Applying rigid valves, spouts, or filling tubes

Abstract

Apparatus for forming a bag assembly from a tube and a tubular flexible membrane operates in accordance with a four step process. This process includes the steps of clamping the tube within an open end of the membrane, injecting liquid adhesive into the open end of the membrane, clamping the membrane and tube where the adhesive was injected, and heating and curing the assembly.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a bag assembly from a tube and a tubular flexible membrane, said membrane having first and second open ends, comprising:

a means for supporting said membrane and said tube with said tube extending into said first open end of said membrane;

a first means for flattening and clamping said membrane to itself and to said tube along a first line spaced from and substantially parallel to said first open end;

a first means for injecting liquid adhesive into said first open end and around said tube between said first open end and said first line; and

a second means for flattening and clamping said membrane to itself and to said tube between said first line and said first open end.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bag assembly further includes a second tube, the apparatus further comprising:

the means for supporting further supporting said membrane with said second tube extending into the second open end of said membrane;

a third means for flattening and clamping said membrane to itself and to said second tube along a second line spaced from and substantially parallel to said second open end;

a second means for injecting liquid adhesive into said second open end and around said second tube between said second open end and said second line; and

a fourth means for flattening and clamping said membrane to itself and to said second tube between said second line and said second open end.