Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-01-23
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C156S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sterile containment welding devices are known for connecting and disconnecting plastic tubes. Examples of such devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,256,229, 5,279,685 and 5,397,425. In general, such devices include a pair of tube holders which would be in alignment with each other. Each of the tube holders has a base with the tube receiving channel into which a plastic tube would be placed. Each tube holder also includes a clamping jaw having a ram and anvil located above the channel. Thus, for example, when a tube is placed in the channel the clamping jaw is moved into locking engagement with the base and the anvil presses against the tube. In one practice of such devices each tube is placed in its channel in a bent condition by being bent upon itself with the bend of the tube extending outwardly from the outer edge of the channel. Thus, in a connect procedure the pair of bent ends would be disposed toward each other with each bent section in alignment with a corresponding bent section of the opposite tube holder. The connect procedure is achieved by passing a heated wafer between the two bent tube ends which causes the tube ends to melt so that a tube section from each tube can be pressed into contact with a corresponding tube section from the other tube and thereby join the two sets of tube sections together.
It is known to include in such devices a thermocouple which monitors the temperature of the heater device so that there is assurance that the wafer will be heated to the desired predetermined temperature. In operation when the device is actuated the heater operates continuously to raise its temperature until the desired temperature is reached. The thermocouple, which is separate from the heater, monitors the temperature rise to sense reaching the desired temperature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide such a sterile containment welding device with a self-monitoring heater which functions not only to heat the wafer but also to monitor the heating process.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a self-monitoring heater unit which functions in a rapid sequence of alternatingly monitoring the heater and performing its heating function.
A still further object of this invention is to use such self-monitoring heater for devices other than sterile containment welding devices.
In accordance with the preferred practice of this invention a sterile containment welding device includes a pair of alignable tube holders each of which has a tube receiving channel with the channels being spaced from each other. A wafer is provided for selective movement into the space to connect/disconnect the tube or tubes mounted in the channels and extending into the space. In accordance with this invention a self-monitoring heater unit is provided upstream from the space. The wafer is mounted for movement through the heater unit prior to movement through the space. The unit comprises a heater for heating the wafer when the wafer is disposed in the unit and further includes a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature created by the unit. As a result, the wafer is raised to its predetermined temperature before being moved into the space.
In a preferred practice of the invention the heating and monitoring functions place in rapid sequence such as being a millisecond for each function. More preferably the heating period is substantially longer than the monitoring period. Preferably, the self-monitoring heater unit is a ribbon etched with a trace to act as a heater and which includes a thermocouple junction for the sensor.
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Connolly Bove & Lodge & Hutz LLP
Denco Inc.
Robinson Daniel
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
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