Assembly and method for introducing a dose of a mixing substance into a container

• US 9,085,397 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eurotrol B.V.
• Original Assignee: Eurotrol B.V.
• Inventors: Maas, Bartholomeus Henricus Antonius
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO
• Application Number:
  US12/083,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20090065378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,210 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 206/145, 206/568, 222/417, 222/448, 222/454, 141/22, 141/320, 141/321, 141/322, 426/115, 426/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/049 Valves integrated in closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/06 requiring the combination of different actions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/222 the piercing or cutting means being integral with, or fixedly attached to, the outer closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2864 the element being a plug or like element closing a passage between the auxiliary container and the main container
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/10 with measuring chambers moved during operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 19/00 Calibrated capacity measures for fluids or fluent solid material, e.g. measuring cups

Abstract

The present invention provides an assembly for introducing a dose of a mixing substance into a container, said assembly comprising a dosing part (3) and a supply part (2), which dosing part is arranged for receiving the dose and which supply part comprises an outlet (14) for introducing the dose into the container. The dosing part and the supply part are configured to cooperate with one another, such that a pressure chamber having a changeable volume is formed adjacent to the outlet when the supply part and the dosing part are joined together, which pressure chamber functions to enable a pumping action for pumping the dose into and out of the container. The invention further provides a method for inserting such a dose into a container.

Claims

1. An assembly for introducing a dose of a mixing substance into a container, said assembly comprising a dosing part and a supply part, which dosing part is arranged for receiving the dose and which supply part comprises a chamber wall and an outlet for introducing the dose into the container,

wherein the dosing part and the supply part are configured to cooperate with one another, such that a pressure chamber having a changeable volume is formed adjacent to the outlet when the supply part and the dosing part are joined together, and wherein the dosing part is adapted to move toward and away from the supply part to decrease and increase the volume of the pressure chamber for enabling a pumping action for pumping the dose into and out of the pressure chamber;

wherein said chamber wall of said supply part blends into said outlet and the chamber wall and the outlet comprise smooth inner sides and rounded corners for reducing a risk of residue of said dose remaining in said supply part,

wherein the dosing part comprises a sealing element corresponding to the outlet and in detachable engagement with an inner wall of the outlet, the sealing element is configured to seal the outlet, and the detachable engagement of the sealing element and the inner wall of the outlet enables said pumping action for pumping the dose into and out of the pressure chamber, and

wherein the sealing element in the dosing part is disposed outside a dose container portion of the dosing part.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the dosing part comprises a dose container for receiving the dose.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is formed by an end of a sealing part extending outwards from the dose container portion of the dosing part.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the dosing part comprises a base and at least one container wall surrounding the base for forming the dose container.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supply part comprises at least one side wall and wherein the dosing part is at least partially receivable in the side wall of the supply part without play so as to form the pressure chamber.

6. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sealing element is formed by an end of a sealing part extending outwards from the dose container portion of the dosing part and wherein the dose container portion of the dosing part is at least partially receivable in the side wall of the supply part without play so as to form the pressure chamber.

7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the dosing part furthermore comprises an outer wall for receiving at least part of the side wall of the supply part therein.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the side wall of the supply part is receivable in the outer wall of the dosing part without play.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device configured to lock the dosing part and the supply part in position relative to each other when the dosing part and the supply part are joined together.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the locking device comprise a receiving part that mates with a receiving element.

11. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the locking device are arranged for locking the dosing part and the supply part in position relative to each other, in such a manner that the sealing element seals the outlet in the locked position of the assembly.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a guide device configured for guide a movement of the dosing part with respect to the supply part.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guide device are formed by a guide rail and a guide cam having a shape corresponding to that of the guide rail, which guide rail is located on either one of the supply part and the dosing part, and which guide cam is located on the other one of said supply part and said dosing part.

14. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guide device are provided with a stopper configured to prevent for the supply part and the dosing part from being disconnected from each other during movement of the dosing part with respect to the supply part.

15. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the dosing part is made in one piece.

16. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supply part is made in one piece.

17. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least either one of the dosing part and the supply part is made of the material comprising polyethylene, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or polypropylene.

18. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting part which comprises an inlet for receiving at least the outlet of the supply part therein and connecting means for connecting the connecting part to the container, wherein the inlet is arranged for providing a supply opening in the container when the connecting part is connected to the container.

19. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container is not part of the assembly, but is a separate structure and wherein the assembly is adapted to be connected to the separate container structure.

20. A method for introducing a mixing substance into a container by means of an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, said assembly comprising a dosing part and a supply part, which supply part comprises an outlet for introducing the dose into the container, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing the dose into the dosing part of the assembly;

joining the dosing part and the supply part together, in such a manner that a pressure chamber having a changeable volume is formed adjacent to the outlet by the joined supply part and dosing part for containing the dose therein;

introducing one end of the outlet into a container; and

moving the dosing part toward and away from the supply part for changing the volume of the pressure chamber so as to obtain a pumping action for transferring the dose to the container and, after the dose has been transferred to the container, the mixture of the dose and the container substance that is present in the container can be pumped back into the pressure chamber,

wherein the dosing part comprises a sealing element corresponding to the outlet and in detachable engagement with an inner wall of the outlet, the sealing element is configured to seal the outlet, and the detachable engagement of the sealing element and the inner wall of the outlet enables said pumping action for pumping the dose into and out of the pressure chamber, and

wherein the sealing element in the dosing part is disposed outside a dose container portion of the dosing part.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the container contains a container substance that is to be mixed with the dose so as to obtain a mixture consisting of the container substance and the dose, and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the dosing part with respect to the supply part after the dose has been transferred to the container for the purpose of changing the volume of the pressure chamber, so that the mixture is pumped back into the pressure chamber for rinsing out the pressure chamber.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of moving the dosing part with respect to the supply part after the mixture has been transferred to the pressure chamber for the purpose of changing the volume of the pressure chamber, so that the mixture is pumped back into the container again.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the steps of claim 21 is repeated one or more times so as to obtain a desired concentration ratio between the dose and the container substance in the mixture.