Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Processes – Bag filling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2002-09-17
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Processes
Bag filling
C141S018000, C141S100000, C141S114000, C141S237000, C141S313000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450215
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for filling bags with filling media. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for accurately filling a plurality of bags to a desired level. The invention also relates to a method for maintaining a sterile region in a bag filling apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
A conventional apparatus
700
for filling flexible medical containers
704
is illustrated by FIG.
7
. The apparatus
700
includes a carrier
702
for holding flexible medical containers
704
. The flexible medical containers
704
are filled by a pump
706
which includes fluid supply containers
708
. A load cell
710
supports the carrier
702
and detects a target weight indicating when the flexible medical containers
704
are filled to a desired level. U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,412 to Smith et al. discloses an apparatus for carrying flexible containers as illustrated in FIG.
7
.
The conventional apparatus
700
has a disadvantage in that the flexible medical containers
704
are commonly supplied with fluid via a tubing junction
712
. Therefore, physical variations in the tubing between the tubing junction
712
and the flexible medical containers
704
can result in a nonuniform distribution of fluid among the flexible medical containers
704
. In addition, variations in the amount of fluid in the flexible medical containers
704
can result from differing amounts of air in the flexible medical containers
704
, the orientation of the flexible medical containers
704
within the carrier
702
, etc. The inability to evenly distribute fluid among the flexible medical containers
704
limits the accuracy to which each of the flexible medical containers
704
can be filled.
Another conventional apparatus
800
for filling bags is illustrated by FIG.
8
. The apparatus
800
unwinds an elongated sheet
802
from a spool
803
and advances it through a closing means
804
. The elongated sheet
802
is advanced by impellers
806
, and individual filled bags
810
in the elongated sheet
802
are separated by a cutter
808
. U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,466 to Koyanagi discloses an apparatus for filling bags as illustrated in FIG.
8
.
The conventional apparatus
800
has the disadvantage that it requires a large area for operation. In addition, the closing means
804
, the impellers
806
, and the cutter
808
must be coordinated in order to ensure proper operation of the apparatus
800
. The apparatus
800
therefore involves a complex interaction of the closing means
804
, the impellers
806
, and the cutter
808
.
Still another conventional apparatus
900
for filling bags
904
is illustrated by FIG.
9
. In the apparatus
900
, a nutrient media container
902
supplies nutrient media to the bags
904
via a tubing network
906
. A burette
908
is coupled to the tubing network
906
through a three-way valve
910
, with the bags
904
being commonly supplied through a connector
912
. U.S. Pat. 4,937,194 to Patillo et al. discloses an apparatus for filling bags as illustrated in FIG.
9
. The conventional apparatus
900
has a disadvantage in that the tubing network
906
does not provide for uniform filling of the bags
904
.
A need therefore exists for an apparatus and a method for filling bags in which bags can be filled to a substantially uniform level. Further, a need exists for an apparatus and a method for filling bags that accurately fills bags without being excessively large and complex. In addition, a need exists for an apparatus and a method for aseptically filling bags.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the conventional art and achieves other advantages not contemplated by the conventional art.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for filling a plurality of bags to a substantially uniform level. Another primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for filling a plurality of bags that fills bags to a substantially uniform level without being excessively complex.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for filling bags in which sterility can be reliably maintained during bag filling operations.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for filling bags which can be operated to fill bags easily and time efficiently.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a bag filling apparatus for filling a plurality of bags comprising: a filling media source; tubing for fluidly connecting the filling media source to a plurality of bags; a pump for moving filling media through the tubing; and a support device for supporting the plurality of bags, the support device including a plurality of spaced walls, the spaced walls being constructed and arranged to exert pressure on side surfaces of bags held within the support device during filling of the bags.
In addition, these and other objects of the present invention are also accomplished by providing a bag filling apparatus for filling a plurality of bags comprising a filling media source; tubing for fluidly connecting the filling media source to a plurality of bags, the tubing including a first loop, a second loop, and at least one harness; a pump for moving filling media through the tubing; and at least one valve for selectively controlling filling media flow in the tubing.
Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for filling a plurality of bags comprising: placing a plurality of bags within a support device, the support device having spaced walls arranged to exert pressure on sides of the bags during filling of the bags; fluidly connecting the plurality of bags to a filling media delivery system; and delivering filling media from the filling media delivery system to the plurality of bags, the spaced walls exerting pressure on the bags to substantially uniformly distribute filling media among the plurality of bags.
Further objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for filling a bag comprising: fluidly connecting tubing to a filling media source; fluidly connecting the tubing to a bag; closing off a region of the tubing; pressurizing the closed off region with filling media; and opening a portion of the closed off region to allow filling media to flow into the bag.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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patent: 4937194 (1990-06-01), Pattillo et al.
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patent: 5953808 (1999-09-01), Schenck, Jr. et al.
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Holcombe Benjamin T.
Willemstyn Benjamin K.
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Charter Medical, Ltd.
Maust Timothy L.
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