Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With casing or support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-08-14
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3752)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With casing or support
C222S135000, C222S144000, C222S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273298
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids from flexible packages and, more particularly, to an apparatus comprising holders for such packages.
2. Description of the Related Art A prior art apparatus of this type is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,691. In this apparatus, the flexible packages consist of bags having a fitting which may be connected to a connector or conduit of an associated pump. If a package is empty, it can be replaced by removing it from the connector and mounting a new package thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,731 discloses another prior art dispensing apparatus including a stationary actuator that facilitates the removal of an empty package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus in which the replacement of a flexible package is further facilitated.
The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids which comprises a plurality of removable rigid holders adapted to receive a flexible fluid package therein in a predetermined position. The holders include second positioning members adapted to coact with first positioning members associated with the pumps. This enables placement of the holders onto the table such that the package received therein is connected to the respective connector.
According to the invention, it is not necessary to handle and manipulate the flexible package in order to mount it to the connector of a pump. The rigid holder surrounding the flexible package is easier to handle making it easier to place the package onto the connector by bringing the positioning members of the holder and table/pump into engagement.
Preferably, the holders are each formed as a rigid openable casing adapted to receive the flexible package therein. The holders have a bottom part or a wall part near the bottom including a retainer for fixing a dispensing part of the flexible package to the casing to obtain the predetermined position.
To further fascilitate the correct placement of the holders, there are provided guiding members for guiding the holder to a position in which the first and second positioning members engage and in which the dispensing part of the package is connected to the connector. The guiding members are formed on at least the holders, and in one embodiment, the guiding members are formed by the side walls of the holders. The horizontal section of the holders is configured as a sector of a circle or as a rectangle and the adjacent holders are positioned close to each other when placed on the table or to the support.
In this embodiment, the holders which are mounted on the support of the apparatus guide a holder which should be disposed between them. This configuration and arrangement of the holders not only leads to a proper guiding of the holders with simple means, but also enables an efficient use of the surface of the table so that a maximum number of packages can be mounted on a minimum table area.
Preferably, the casing of the holder has depressions in the side walls adjacent to the outer wall to enable the holders to be grasped from a row of closely placed holders on the table. This enables an easy handling of the holders despite the close placement of the holders next to each other with hardly any spacing.
The invention also includes a holder for a fluid package for use in an apparatus for dispensing fluids. This holder comprises a rigid openable casing adapted to receive a flexible fluid package therein. The casing includes a wall part near the bottom of the holder having a retainer for fixing a rigid dispensing part of the flexible package to the casing such that a dispensing opening in the dispensing part of the package opens to the exterior of the casing. The holder comprises positioning members to position the holder with respect to the apparatus such that the dispensing part of the packages is connected to a respective connector, as well as guiding members for guiding the holder to the position in which the dispensing part of the package is connected to the connector.
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Bomberg Kenneth
Fluid Management, Inc.
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
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