Lift and support assemblies and methods for collapsible bag containers of vessels and bioreactors
First Claim
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1. A lift assembly for installing, lifting, or supporting a collapsible bag within a vessel configured to contain a volume of fluid, comprising:
- an assembly support structure adapted to be attached at least to opposite sides of a top portion of the vessel wherein the vessel comprises an entry port positioned at a bottom portion of the vessel, the entry port adapted to allow entry of the collapsible bag into the vessel;
a lifting component mounted on the assembly support structure and vertically movable relative to the assembly support structure, and wherein the lifting component is extendable to at least the level of the entry port, the lifting component configured and arranged to be attached to the collapsible bag to be installed in the vessel, or supported or lifted within the vessel, and to lift at least an upper portion of the collapsible bag to convert the collapsible bag from a collapsed to an uncollapsed configuration and to support the collapsible bag in the uncollapsed configuration; and
a motive device for vertically moving the lifting component relative to the assembly support structure, wherein the motive device further comprisesa motor mounted above the vessel supported at least in part by the assembly support structure and mechanically linked to the lifting componenta controller to control the raising, lowering, and/or stopping of the lifting component via the motor, anda strain interlock to prevent tearing of the collapsible bag that may be caught or obstructed during installation or removal.
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Abstract
Disclosed are a lift assembly and methods that may be used to raise a component of a system, a component such as a collapsible bag to be used as a reactor for performing chemical or biological reactions, and/or to position the collapsible bag for use. Use of the lift assembly may allow for the automated assembly of the systems described herein. In some cases, trauma to the system components is minimized.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A lift assembly for installing, lifting, or supporting a collapsible bag within a vessel configured to contain a volume of fluid, comprising:
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an assembly support structure adapted to be attached at least to opposite sides of a top portion of the vessel wherein the vessel comprises an entry port positioned at a bottom portion of the vessel, the entry port adapted to allow entry of the collapsible bag into the vessel; a lifting component mounted on the assembly support structure and vertically movable relative to the assembly support structure, and wherein the lifting component is extendable to at least the level of the entry port, the lifting component configured and arranged to be attached to the collapsible bag to be installed in the vessel, or supported or lifted within the vessel, and to lift at least an upper portion of the collapsible bag to convert the collapsible bag from a collapsed to an uncollapsed configuration and to support the collapsible bag in the uncollapsed configuration; and a motive device for vertically moving the lifting component relative to the assembly support structure, wherein the motive device further comprises a motor mounted above the vessel supported at least in part by the assembly support structure and mechanically linked to the lifting component a controller to control the raising, lowering, and/or stopping of the lifting component via the motor, and a strain interlock to prevent tearing of the collapsible bag that may be caught or obstructed during installation or removal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising
a vessel comprising: - an entry port positioned at a bottom portion of the vessel, the entry port adapted to allow entry of a collapsible bag into the vessel;
the collapsible bag configured to contain a volume of a fluid,a support structure surrounding and containing the collapsible bag; and a lift assembly comprising an assembly support structure attached at least to opposite sides of a top portion of the vessel, a lifting component mounted on the assembly support structure and vertically movable relative to the assembly support structure, and wherein the lifting component is extendable to at least the level of the entry port and through the entry port, such that at least a part of the lifting component can be positioned exterior to the interior portion of the vessel to facilitate being attached to an article, the lifting component configured and arranged to be attached to the collapsible bag to be installed in the vessel, or supported or lifted within the vessel, and to lift at least an upper portion of the collapsible bag to convert the collapsible bag from a collapsed to an uncollapsed configuration and to support the collapsible bag in the uncollapsed configuration; and a motive device for vertically moving the lifting component relative to the assembly support structure, wherein the motive device further comprises a motor mounted above the vessel supported at least in part by the assembly support structure and mechanically linked to the lifting component a controller to control the raising, lowering, and/or stopping of the lifting component via the motor, and a strain interlock to prevent tearing of the collapsible bag that may be caught or obstructed during installation or removal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- an entry port positioned at a bottom portion of the vessel, the entry port adapted to allow entry of a collapsible bag into the vessel;
Specification