U.S. patent application number 14/356923 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for closure/connectors for liner-based shipping and dispensing containers and methods for filling liner-based shipping and dispensing containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alfredo Daniel Botet, Jordan Hodges, Dale Mowrey, Greg Nelson, Glenn M. Tom, Donald Ware.
Application Number | 20140305079 14/356923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48430188 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140305079 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ware; Donald ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
CLOSURE/CONNECTORS FOR LINER-BASED SHIPPING AND DISPENSING
CONTAINERS AND METHODS FOR FILLING LINER-BASED SHIPPING AND
DISPENSING CONTAINERS
Abstract
A method for removing headspace gas from a liner-based assembly.
The liner-based assembly may generally include an overpack, a liner
positioned within the overpack and containing a material and
headspace gas, and a closure for sealing the liner. The method may
include providing a one-way valve in fluid communication with the
interior of the liner and permitting flow in a direction out of the
interior of the liner, and applying a vacuum to the one-way valve
to evacuate headspace gas from the interior of the liner. In some
embodiments, The liner-based assembly may also include a port in
fluid communication with an annular space between the overpack and
liner, and the method may include capping the port, for example,
during application of the vacuum to the one-way valve.
Inventors: |
Ware; Donald; (Woodbury,
MN) ; Botet; Alfredo Daniel; (Avon, CT) ; Tom;
Glenn M.; (Bloomington, MN) ; Nelson; Greg;
(Minneapolis, MN) ; Mowrey; Dale; (Montgomery,
MN) ; Hodges; Jordan; (Cedar Park, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. |
Danbury |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Advanced Technology Materials,
Inc.
Danbury
CT
|
Family ID: |
48430188 |
Appl. No.: |
14/356923 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
November 16, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2012/065515 |
371 Date: |
May 8, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
61561493 |
Nov 18, 2011 |
|
|
|
61615709 |
Mar 26, 2012 |
|
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61615660 |
Mar 26, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/405 ; 53/408;
53/440; 53/485 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67C 3/30 20130101; B67D
7/0288 20130101; B65D 77/06 20130101; B65B 3/04 20130101; B65D
81/2023 20130101; B65B 3/18 20130101; B67D 7/0255 20130101; B67C
3/223 20130101; B65B 63/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/405 ; 53/408;
53/440; 53/485 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28; B65B 63/08 20060101
B65B063/08 |
Claims
1. A method for removing headspace gas from a liner-based assembly
comprising an overpack, a liner positioned within the overpack and
containing a material and headspace gas, and a closure for sealing
the liner, the method comprising: providing a one-way valve in
fluid communication with the interior of the liner and permitting
flow in a direction out of the interior of the liner; applying a
vacuum to the one-way valve to evacuate headspace gas from the
interior of the liner.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the liner-based assembly further
comprises a port in fluid communication with an annular space
between the overpack and liner, and further comprising capping the
port.
3. A liner-based assembly configured for headspace gas removal, the
liner-based assembly comprising: an overpack; a liner positioned
within the overpack; a closure configured for removable coupling
with the liner for sealing the liner; and a one-way valve in fluid
communication with the interior of the liner permitting flow in a
direction out of the interior of the liner.
4. The liner-based assembly of claim 3, wherein the one-way valve
is coupled with the closure.
5. The liner-based assembly of claim 4, further comprising a port
in fluid communication with an annular space between the overpack
and liner.
6. The liner-based assembly of claim 5, wherein the port is
temporarily capped for headspace gas removal.
7. A method for filling a container assembly, the method
comprising: heating a material to a predetermined temperature and
filling the container with the material at the predetermined
temperature; sealing the container; and subsequent sealing the
container, permitting the material in the container to cool.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined temperature is
between about 40-60.degree. C.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the material is permitted to cool
to generally ambient room temperature of a room in which the
container is located.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising filling the container
with the material substantially to the top, such that substantially
no excess space is provided for headspace gas.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising, subsequent sealing
of the container, removing headspace gas.
12. A liner-based assembly for use with pressure dispense
comprising: an overpack; a liner disposed within the overpack; and
a closure assembly securable to at least one of the overpack and
the liner, the closure assembly including a headspace vent and a
reservoir, the reservoir configured to collect an overflow of
material stored within the interior of the liner; wherein the
closure assembly is configured to form a seal to the liner by
curing the overflow of material in the reservoir.
13. The liner-based assembly of claim 12, wherein the material is
an adhesive.
14. The liner-based assembly of claim 13, further comprising a cap
configured for removably sealing the reservoir.
15. A method for filing and sealing a container comprising: filling
the container with an adhesive; operably coupling a closure
assembly to the container, the closure assembly comprising a
reservoir configured to collect an overflow of the adhesive; at
least one of permitting or causing a portion of the adhesive in the
container to flow into the reservoir of the closure assembly; and
curing the overflow of adhesive in the reservoir to form a seal for
the container.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising capping the closure
assembly to removably seal the reservoir.
17. A liner-based assembly for use with pressure dispense
comprising: an overpack; a liner disposed within the overpack; and
a cap assembly securable to at least one of the overpack and the
liner, the cap assembly comprising a closure and a plug member,
wherein the closure includes a mouth configured to detachably
couple to a dispense connector and to also detachably couple to the
plug member, wherein the plug is configured to substantially
completely fill the mouth of the closure.
18. The liner-based assembly of claim 17, wherein the liner
contains an edible food substance, and the dispense connector is
configured for dispensing food substances.
19. A method for dispensing the contents of a liner-based assembly,
the method comprising: providing a liner having a desired substance
stored therein, the liner being disposed within an overpack and
comprising a liner neck with a seal secured thereto; securing a
dispense connector to the liner neck, such that a probe on the
dispense connector is initially positioned adjacent to, but not
piercing, the seal in the liner neck, but is positioned such that
when the substance is dispensed by pressure dispense, the seal
flexes upward against the probe, and the probe pierces the seal to
permit dispense of the substance.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the substance is dispensed by
indirect pressure dispense, wherein a pressure is applied to the
annular space between the liner and overpack.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous
shipping and dispensing systems. Particularly, the present
disclosure relates to novel and advantageous closure/connector
systems for liner-based systems, and more particularly,
closure/connector systems that may advantageously be tailored for
use in particular industries, which may include being configured
for compatibility with existing dispensing systems. The present
disclosure also relates to novel and advantageous methods for
filling a liner-based assembly to minimize the potential for
damage, leaks, or contamination associated with thermal expansion
of the contents of a liner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Container systems may be used in many industries for
storing, shipping and/or dispensing materials. For example,
container systems may be used to contain liquid-based contents of
any viscosity. Typically, a shipping and dispensing system will
include a container of some kind, and/or a liner, a cap that may be
used to seal and protect the contents of the storage system when
the contents are not being dispensed, and a connector that may be
used to dispense the contents from the container. In some
industries, one or more predominant dispense systems may exist,
such that in order for a container system to be compatible with an
end-user's existing dispense system, the container must have
compatibly sized and shaped features. However, traditional storage
and dispense container systems that may be compatible with such
dispense systems may have one or more disadvantages. For example,
traditional storage and dispense container systems may not ensure
and/or maintain the purity of the contents of the container; may
not efficiently use storage and/or shipping space, and therefore
may result in unnecessary cost; and/or may not have satisfactory
dispense rates, for example.
[0003] However, because the purchase and/or installation of a
dispense system may be a substantial cost, and in some cases
potentially a prohibitive cost, an end-user may be stuck using
container systems that are compatible with the existing dispense
system, even though there may be other container systems that are
more advantageous in one or more ways. Accordingly, there is a need
for a storage and dispense system that is better than traditional
storage and dispense systems in one or more ways that may also be
compatible with existing dispensing systems used in various
existing industries.
[0004] Additionally, many material customers utilizing such
container systems desire the ability to ship their material to end
users with no or substantially no headspace gas. Presently, there
is an elaborate process used by end users to remove headspace gas,
as well as whatever gas is trapped in the stored material. Shipping
a packaged material with no or substantially no headspace would
eliminate the need for such an elaborate end user process and would
allow end users to take their product directly from the container
system to their final utilization process.
[0005] Furthermore, many substances that can desirably be stored in
a container system may be affected by temperature change. For
example, when some substances are subjected to increasing
temperatures they may tend to expand and/or when they are subjected
to decreasing temperature they may tend to contract. In some cases
the thermal expansion of a substance contained in a liner may put a
fair to significant amount of stress on the walls of the container,
which in some cases may result in the walls of the container being
damaged and could lead to the contents of the container becoming
contaminated and/or leaking. In some cases, the contents of a
container may be expensive or even extremely expensive and the loss
of the contents due to contamination and/or leaking may have
significant adverse consequences at the least. For example, some
materials for use in some high-technology industries may be both
very expensive and useable only when the material remains
substantially free of contamination. Therefore any contamination
caused by leaks or cracks in a container wall for example could
render the entire container of very expensive material unusable. To
this end, there is a further need for a method of filling a
container that can take into account the propensity for a substance
to expand when temperatures rise. There is also a need to
substantially entirely fill a container with a substance in order
to most cost-effectively ship and/or store the material.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to a
method for removing headspace gas from a liner-based assembly. The
liner-based assembly may generally include an overpack, a liner
positioned within the overpack and containing a material and
headspace gas, and a closure for sealing the liner. The method may
include providing a one-way valve in fluid communication with the
interior of the liner and permitting flow in a direction out of the
interior of the liner, and applying a vacuum to the one-way valve
to evacuate headspace gas from the interior of the liner. In some
embodiments, The liner-based assembly may also include a port in
fluid communication with an annular space between the overpack and
liner, and the method may include capping the port, for example,
during application of the vacuum to the one-way valve.
[0007] The present disclosure, in another embodiment, relates to a
liner-based assembly configured for headspace gas removal. The
liner-based assembly may include an overpack, a liner positioned
within the overpack, a closure configured for removable coupling
with the liner for sealing the liner, and a one-way valve in fluid
communication with the interior of the liner permitting flow in a
direction out of the interior of the liner. In some embodiments,
the one-way valve is coupled with the closure while in other
embodiments, the one-way valve may be integral with the closure.
The liner-based assembly may also include a port in fluid
communication with an annular space between the overpack and liner,
such that the liner-based assembly is configured, for example, for
indirect pressure dispense. The port may be temporarily capped for
headspace gas removal.
[0008] The present disclosure, in a further embodiment, relates to
a method for filling a container assembly. The method may include
heating a material to a predetermined temperature and filling the
container with the material at the predetermined temperature,
sealing the container, and subsequent sealing the container,
permitting the material in the container to cool. In one
embodiment, the material may be heated to between about
40-60.degree. C. Likewise, the material may be permitted to cool to
generally ambient room temperature of the room in which the
container is located. The method may include filling the container
with the material substantially to the top, such that substantially
no excess space is provided for headspace gas. In other
embodiments, subsequent sealing of the container, headspace gas may
be removed.
[0009] The present disclosure, in still another embodiment, relates
to a liner-based assembly for use with pressure dispense. The
liner-based assembly may include an overpack, a liner disposed
within the overpack, and a closure assembly securable to the
overpack and/or the liner. The closure assembly may include a
headspace vent and a reservoir configured to collect an overflow of
material stored within the interior of the liner. The closure
assembly may be generally configured to form a seal to the liner by
curing the overflow of material in the reservoir. In particular
embodiments, the material stored in the liner-based assembly is an
adhesive. In additional embodiments, the liner-based assembly may
also include a cap configured for removably sealing the
reservoir.
[0010] The present disclosure, in yet another embodiment, relates
to a method for filing and sealing a container. The method may
include filling the container with an adhesive, operably coupling a
closure assembly to the container, the closure assembly having a
reservoir configured to collect an overflow of the adhesive,
permitting or causing a portion of the adhesive in the container to
flow into the reservoir of the closure assembly, and curing the
overflow of adhesive in the reservoir to form a seal for the
container. The method may further include capping the closure
assembly to removably seal the reservoir.
[0011] The present disclosure, in another embodiment, relates to a
liner-based assembly for use with pressure dispense. The
liner-based assembly may include an overpack, a liner disposed
within the overpack, and a cap assembly securable to the overpack
and/or the liner, the cap assembly including a closure and a plug
member, wherein the closure includes a mouth configured to
detachably couple to a dispense connector and to also detachably
couple to the plug member, wherein the plug is configured to
substantially completely fill the mouth of the closure. In
particular embodiments, the liner-based assembly is configured for
use in the food industry with existing dispense connectors of that
industry, and in this regard, the liner may contain an edible food
substance, and the dispense connector may be configured for
dispensing food substances.
[0012] The present disclosure, in still a further embodiment,
relates to a method for dispensing the contents of a liner-based
assembly. The method may include providing a liner having a desired
substance stored therein, the liner being disposed within an
overpack and comprising a liner neck with a seal secured thereto,
securing a dispense connector to the liner neck, such that a probe
on the dispense connector is initially positioned adjacent to, but
not piercing, the seal in the liner neck, but is positioned such
that when the substance is dispensed by pressure dispense, the seal
flexes upward against the probe, and the probe pierces the seal to
permit dispense of the substance. In some embodiments, the
substance may be dispensed by indirect pressure dispense, wherein a
pressure is applied to the annular space between the liner and
overpack.
[0013] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other
embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which
shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. As
will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure
are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are
to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] While the specification concludes with claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is
regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present
disclosure, it is believed that the disclosure will be better
understood from the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying Figures, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a shipping and
dispensing system according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a shipping and dispensing
system including a closure/connector assembly according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a shipping and dispensing
system including a closure/connector assembly according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the shipping and
dispensing system of FIG. 2 with the closure/connector assembly
coupled to the shipping and dispensing system according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a liner based system of
the present disclosure according to one embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of a liner based system of
the present disclosure according to one embodiment where the liner
is being compressed.
[0021] FIG. 3D is a perspective view of a connector and seal
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 3E is a cut-away view of a liner-based system according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a closure/connector
assembly coupled to a shipping and dispensing system according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispensing connector for
use with a shipping and dispensing system according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a shipping and storage system for use with
indirect pressure dispense according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 7 shows statistics related to the indirect pressure
dispense method shown in FIG. 6 provided in graphical form in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a shipping and
dispensing system including a packaging element according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure that.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method for filling a
liner-based assembly according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a liner-based shipping and
dispensing system having a one-way valve for headspace removal
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous
shipping and dispensing systems. More particularly, one aspect of
the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous
closure/connector systems for liner-based shipping and dispensing
systems. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to novel
and advantageous methods for filling a liner-based assembly with a
desired substance, such that there is a reduced risk of causing
damage to the liner and/or contents of the liner resulting from
thermal expansion of the substance. In some embodiments, the
liner-based shipping and dispensing systems and/or the closure and
connectors for a liner-based shipping and dispensing system
disclosed herein may be configured for particular use in the food
industry or for use where the stored material is an adhesive,
including, but not limited to epoxies, adhesive epoxies, epoxy and
polyurethane coloring pigments, polyurethane cast resins, UV light
and/or moisture curable silicone based adhesives, UV light and/or
heat curable acrylic based adhesives, cyanoacrylate and anaerobic
adhesives, reactive synthetic adhesives including, but not limited
to, resorcinol, polyurethane, epoxy and/or cyanoacrylate, which
cure primarily by chemical reactions rather than by evaporation of
a carrier or solvent. It will be understood, however, that the
liner-based shipping and dispensing systems and/or the closure and
connectors for a liner-based shipping and dispensing system
disclosed herein may also be used for a wide variety of other
applications. Examples of some of the types of materials that may
also be used with embodiments of the present disclosure include,
but are not limited to: ultrapure liquids, such as acids, solvents,
bases, photoresists, slurries, detergents, cleaning formulations,
dopants, inorganic, organic, metalorganics, TEOS, and biological
solutions, DNA and RNA solvents and reagents, pharmaceuticals,
printable electronics inorganic and organic materials, lithium ion
or other battery type electrolytes, nanomaterials (including for
example, fullerenes, inorganic nanoparticles, sol-gels, and other
ceramics), and radioactive chemicals; pesticides/fertilizers;
paints/glosses/solvents/coating-materials etc.; power washing
fluids; lubricants for use in the automobile or aviation industry,
for example; food products, such as but not limited to, condiments,
cooking oils, and soft drinks, for example; reagents or other
materials for use in the biomedical or research industry; hazardous
materials used by the military, for example; polyurethanes;
agrochemicals; industrial chemicals; cosmetic chemicals; petroleum
and lubricants; sealants; health and oral hygiene products and
toiletry products; or any other material that may be dispensed by
pressure dispense, for example. Materials that may be used with
embodiments of the present disclosure may have any viscosity,
including high viscosity and low viscosity fluids. Those skilled in
the art will recognize the benefits of the disclosed embodiments,
and therefore will recognize the suitability of the disclosed
embodiments to various industries and for the transportation and
dispense of various products.
[0031] The liner-based systems of the present disclosure may hold
up to approximately 200 liters, in some embodiments. Alternatively,
the liner-based systems may hold up to approximately 20 liters.
Alternatively, the liner-based systems may hold approximately 1 to
5 liters, or less. It will be appreciated that the referenced
container sizes are examples only and that the liner-based systems
of the present disclosure may be readily adapted for use with a
wide variety of sized and shaped shipping and dispensing
containers. The entire liner-based system of the present disclosure
may be used a single-time and then disposed of, in some
embodiments. In other embodiments, the overpack, for example, may
be reused while the liner and/or any closures or connectors may be
used only a single time. In still other embodiments, some portion
of the closure and/or connector may be configured for a one-time
use while other portions of the closure and/or connector may be
configured for repeated use.
[0032] FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a liner-based shipping
and dispense system 100 of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the shipping and dispense system 100 may include an
overpack 102, a liner 104, and one or more closures and/or
connectors, which may be referred to herein as closure/connector
assemblies 122. A closure/connector assembly may comprise in some
embodiments, a filling connector and/or a dispensing connector
and/or a closure or cap, as will be described in further detail
below.
[0033] The overpack 102 may include an overpack wall 106, an
interior cavity 108, and a mouth 110. The overpack 102 may be
comprised of any suitable material or combination of materials, for
example but not limited to, one or more polymers, including
plastics, nylons, EVOH, polyolefins, or other natural or synthetic
polymers. In further embodiments, the overpack 102 may be
manufactured using polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene
naphthalate (PEN), poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PBN),
polyethylene (PE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE),
low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene
(MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP),
and/or a fluoropolymer, such as but not limited to,
polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and perfluoroalkoxy
(PFA). The overpack 102 may be of any suitable shape or
configuration, such as, but not limited to, a bottle, a can, a
drum, etc.
[0034] As described above, the shipping and dispense system 100 may
include a liner 104, which may be disposed within the overpack 102.
The liner 104 may include a liner wall 112, an interior cavity 114,
and a mouth 116. The mouth 116 of the liner 104 may include a
fitment portion 118. The fitment portion 118 may be made of a
different material than the rest of the liner 104 and may be
harder, more resilient, and/or less flexible than the rest of the
liner. The fitment portion 118 may couple with a closure, connector
or closure/connector assembly 122 (discussed more fully below) by
any suitable means, such as but not limited to, complementary
threading, snap-fit or friction-fit means, bayonet means, or any
other suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms for coupling,
as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In some
embodiments, a connector or closure/connector assembly 122 may
couple to, or may also couple to, the mouth 110 of the overpack
102.
[0035] In some embodiments, the liner 104 may be a collapsible
liner that is substantially flexible, while in other embodiments
the liner may be somewhat rigid but still collapsible, e.g., a
rigid collapsible liner or substantially rigid collapsible liner.
As used herein, the terms "rigid" or "substantially rigid," in
addition to any standard dictionary definitions, are meant to also
include the characteristic of an object or material to
substantially hold its shape and/or volume when in an environment
of a first pressure, but wherein the shape and/or volume may be
altered in an environment of increased or decreased pressure. The
amount of increased or decreased pressure needed to alter the shape
and/or volume of the object or material may depend on the
application desired for the material or object and may vary from
application to application. In addition, the term "substantially
rigid" is meant to include the characteristic of an object or
material to substantially hold its shape and/or volume, but upon
application of such increased or decreased pressure, tend to give,
such as by but not limited to, flexing, bending, etc., rather than
breaking.
[0036] The liner 104 may be manufactured using any suitable
material or combination of materials, such as but not limited to,
any of the materials or combination of materials listed above with
respect to the overpack 102. However, the overpack 102 and liner
104 need not be manufactured from the same materials. In some
embodiments, the material or materials selected and the thickness
of that material or those materials may determine the rigidity of
the liner 104. The liner 104 may have one or more layers and may
have any desirable thickness. A liner 104 may have a thickness of,
for example, from about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm, or any other
suitable thickness.
[0037] The liner 104 may be configured to comprise any desirable
shape that is appealing to the user, and/or assists in the collapse
of the liner. The liner 104, in some embodiments, may be
dimensioned and shaped to substantially conform to the interior of
the overpack 102. As such, the liner 102 may have a relatively
simplistic design with a generally smooth outer surface, or the
liner may have a relatively complicated design including, for
example but not limited to, indentations and/or protrusions. In
some embodiments, the liner wall 112 may include a generally
textured surface in order to minimize leaching and/or adhesion. For
example, in some embodiments, the surface may include a plurality
of bumps, scales, or projections, which may each have any
appropriate size, for example, but not limited to, from about
0.5-100 .mu.m. Texturizing features may be spaced any suitable
distance from one another. In some embodiments, the texturizing may
comprise a framework, such as a lattice or scaffold, for example.
Examples of some suitable texturizing features are described in
greater detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/334,006,
titled, "Fluid Processing Components with Textured Surface for
Decreased Adhesion and Related Methods," filed May 12, 2010, which
is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The
liner 104 may have a relatively thin liner wall 112, as compared to
the thickness of the overpack wall 106. In some embodiments, the
liner 102 may be flexible such that the liner wall 112 may be
readily collapsed, such as by vacuum through the mouth 116 or by
pressure between the liner wall 112 and overpack wall 106, referred
to herein as the annular space therebetween.
[0038] The liner 104, in a further embodiment, may have a shape,
when inflated or filled, that is different from, but complimentary
with, the shape of the overpack 102 such that it may be disposed
therein. In some embodiments, the liner 104 may be removably
attached to the interior of the overpack wall 102. The liner 104
may provide a barrier, such as a gas barrier, against drive gas
migration from the annular space between the liner wall 112 and the
overpack wall 106. In some embodiments, the material from which the
liner 104 is manufactured may provide gas barrier properties. In
other embodiments, the gas barrier may be provided by a component
added to the material from which the liner wall is manufactured,
may be an additional layer added to the liner wall 112, or may be
any other suitable structure for providing a gas barrier between
the annular space and the interior of the liner. Accordingly, the
liner 104 may generally ensure and/or maintain the purity of the
contents within the liner.
[0039] In some embodiments, particularly where sterility of the
contents of the liner must be substantially maintained, the liner
102 may be comprised of a material that may help ensure or maintain
a sterile environment for the contents disposed in the liner. For
example, in some embodiments the liner may be comprised of TK8
manufactured by ATMI of Danbury, Conn., or any other suitable
material. In additional or alternative embodiments, the liner
and/or liner-based shipping and dispensing system may be a liner
and/or liner-based shipping and dispensing system particularly
configured for the substantially sterile storage, shipment, and
dispense of materials, such as those disclosed in International PCT
Appl. No. PCT/US2012/59865, titled "Liner-Based Shipping and
Dispensing Containers for the Substantially Sterile Storage,
Shipment, and Dispense of Materials," filed Oct. 12, 2012, and
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0040] As noted above, in some embodiments, the liner 104 may
comprise multiple layers. The multiple layers may comprise one or
more different polymers or other suitable materials. In some
embodiments, the thickness, ply, and/or the composition of the
liner and/or the layers of the liner may allow for the secure and
substantially uncontaminated shipment of the contents of the
liner-based system of the present disclosure by limiting or
eliminating typical weaknesses or problems associated with
traditional liners or packages, such as, for example weld tears,
pin holes, gas entrainment, and/or any other means of
contamination. Similarly, or in addition, the liner 104 may also
contribute to the secure and substantially uncontaminated shipment
of the contents of the shipping and dispense system 100 of the
present disclosure by configuring the liner to substantially
conform to the shape of the overpack when the liner is filled,
thereby reducing the amount of movement of the contents during
shipping.
[0041] The overpack 102 and liner 104 may each be manufactured
using any suitable manufacturing process, such as but not limited
to, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding,
extrusion, etc., and may each be manufactured as a single component
or may be a combination of multiple components. In some
embodiments, the overpack 102 and liner 104 may be blow molded in a
nested fashion, also referred to herein as co-blow molded. Examples
of liner-based systems and methods utilizing co-blow molding
techniques have been described in greater detail in Examples of
liner-based systems and methods utilizing co-blow molding
techniques have been described in greater detail in International
PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55560, titled "Nested Blow Molded Liner and
Overpack and Methods of Making Same," filed Oct. 10, 2011, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some
embodiments, a liner may be blow molded into an already formed
overpack, whereby the overpack may function as the mold for the
liner, sometimes referred to herein as "dual blow molding." In such
embodiments, the overpack may be manufactured by any suitable
process.
[0042] Examples of the type of liners and overpacks that may be
used are disclosed in more detail in: International PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US11/55558, titled, "Substantially Rigid Collapsible Liner,
Container and/or Liner for Replacing Glass Bottles, and Enhanced
Flexible Liners," filed Oct. 10, 2011; International PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US11/55560, titled, "Nested Blow Molded Liner and Overpack and
Methods of Making Same," filed Oct. 10, 2011; International PCT
Appl. No. PCT/US11/64141, titled "Generally Cylindrically-Shaped
Liner for Use in Pressure Dispense Systems and Methods of
Manufacturing the Same," filed Dec. 9, 2011; U.S. Prov. Appl. No.
61/703,996, titled "Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing Systems,"
filed Sep. 21, 2012; U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/468,832, titled
"Liner-Based Dispenser," filed Mar. 29, 2011 and related
International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2011/061764, filed Nov. 22,
2011; U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/525,540, titled "Liner-Based
Dispensing Systems," filed Aug. 19, 2011 and related International
PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2011/061771, filed Nov. 22, 2011; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/149,844, titled "Fluid Storage and
Dispensing Systems and Processes," filed May 31, 2000 U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/915,996, titled "Fluid Storage and
Dispensing Systems and Processes," filed Jun. 5, 2006;
International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US10/51786, titled "Material
Storage and Dispensing System and Method With Degassing Assembly,"
filed Oct. 7, 2010; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US10/41629;
U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,721; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/912,629; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/302,287;
International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US08/85264; U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/745,605, filed Feb. 15, 2011; U.S. Prov. Appln. No.
61/605,011, titled "Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing System,"
filed Feb. 29, 2012; and U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/561,493, titled
"Closure/Connectors for Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing
Containers," filed Nov. 18, 2011, each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The overpack 102
and liner 104 for use with the shipping and dispense system 100 of
the present disclosure may include any of the embodiments,
features, and/or enhancements disclosed in any of the above noted
applications, including, but not limited to, flexible, rigid
collapsible, 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, welded, molded,
gusseted, and/or non-gusseted liners, and/or liners that contain
folds and/or liners that comprise methods for limiting or
eliminating choke-off and liners sold under the brand name
NOWpak.RTM. by ATMI, Inc. for example. Various features of
dispensing systems disclosed in embodiments described herein may be
used in combination with one or more other features described with
regard to other embodiments.
[0043] In one particular embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, a
storage and dispense system of the present disclosure may include a
liner-based system having a liner 130 positioned within an overpack
132. The overpack 132 may include a top portion 134 and a bottom
portion 136. The bottom portion 136 may also be referred to as a
chime. In other embodiments, however, the overpack may be a unitary
piece, or in still other embodiments the overpack may comprise more
than two pieces. The liner and overpack may be formed by any
suitable method described herein and may be comprised of any
suitable material described herein. For example, in embodiments
having a single-piece overpack, the liner and overpack may be
co-blow molded, for example. The liner 130 and/or overpack 132 may
include surface features, and in some embodiments, such as where
nested co-blow molding is used to manufacture the liner and
overpack, co-extensive surface features that may help minimize or
eliminate dimpling in the liner and/or overpack that may result
from temperature changes, for example. Particularly, in one
embodiment, the liner 130 may contain surface features, such as but
not limited to, one or more indented or protruding panels 138 that
may be positioned around the circumference of the liner. In some
embodiments the overpack 132 may also have similar or co-extensive
surface features. Such surface features may include any desired or
suitable dimensions, geometry, or pattern, as is further described
in U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/605,011 and International PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US11/55558, which were previously incorporated by reference
herein in their entirety. Generally, surface features such as one
or more panels may add strength and/or rigidity to the liner and/or
overpack. However, in some embodiments, more shallow edging may
also keep the liner from sticking to the overpack.
[0044] In other embodiments, the liner-based shipping and
dispensing systems of the present disclosure may include baffles,
baffling features, or other discontinuities in the interior
surface(s) thereof to retard settling of the suspended solids
contained therein during storage and/or transportation.
[0045] The liner-based shipping and dispensing systems described
herein may be configured as any suitable shape, including but not
limited to square, rectangular, triangular or pyramidal,
cylindrical, or any other suitable polygon or other shape.
Differently shaped dispensers can improve packing density during
storage and/or transportation, and may reduce overall
transportation costs. Additionally, differently shaped dispensers
can be used to differentiate dispensers from one another, such as
to provide an indicator of the contents provided within the
dispensers or to identify for which application or applications the
contents are to be used, etc. In still further embodiments, the
dispensers described herein may be configured as any suitable shape
in order to "retrofit" the dispensers with existing dispense
assemblies or dispense systems.
[0046] Embodiments of the liner-based assemblies of the present
disclosure may include additional features that may help minimize
stiction (e.g. by including an overcoat or slip agent in the
material of the liner and/or overpack); may help reduce the risk of
contamination (e.g. by including a colorant to the overpack to
reduce penetration of ultraviolet light); may make it easier to
package, ship, carry, and/or move the liner-based assembly (e.g. by
including one or more handles, or additional packaging elements);
may allow the liner and overpack to be compatible with one or more
caps, connectors, or dispensing assemblies, and/or make the
liner-based assembly more secure and/or keep the contents of the
liner free of contaminants, such as rings, collars, seals,
connectors, caps, etc.; and/or any other feature such as those more
fully described in U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/605,011, U.S. Prov.
Appln. No. 61/561,493, and International PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US11/55558, each of which was previously incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0047] Generally, in use, a liner-based system may be used in the
following way: first the liner-based system may be shipped to a
fill site; the liner-based system may be filled with a desired
substance and then shipped to an end-user, for example; the
end-user may then store and/or dispense the contents of the
container; finally, after dispense, the end-user may dispose of the
liner-based system, and/or recycle or reuse some or all of the
liner-based system, including some or all of the closure/connector
assembly. The closure/connector assembly may be suitably configured
to be used at one or more points in the cycle of use described
above for a liner-based system. For example, a fill connector may
be secured to the fitment 118 of the liner, the mouth 110 of the
overpack, or both during filling of the liner. The fill connector,
in some embodiments, may be configured to limit or substantially
eliminate contaminants being introduced into the liner or the
substance being introduced therein, during filling; and/or to
increase the speed at which filling may occur, for example. Once
the liner has been filled at a fill site, a shipping cap or closure
may be detachably secured to the liner-based system. In some
embodiments, the cap or closure may couple to the fitment 118 of
the liner, the mouth 110 of the overpack, or both. In some cases,
the fill connector may be removed prior to connecting the closure,
while in other cases, the closure may couple to the fill connector
and the fill connector may remain on the container during storage
and/or transport. The purpose of the closure is generally to keep
contaminants out and the desired material in the liner during
storage and/or transportation. Once the filled liner or liner-based
system arrives at an end destination, where some or all of the
dispense will occur, in some cases the closure (or closure and fill
connector in some embodiments) may be removed and a dispense
connector may be secured to the fitment 118 of the liner, the mouth
110 of the overpack, or both. In some embodiments, the fill
connector may also be configured as a dispense connector.
Accordingly, in some cases a closure or cap may be incorporated
into a connector, such that a single connector may be used for
filling, shipping, and dispensing, while in other cases, the
dispense connector may be a separate connector from the connector
used for filling.
[0048] The dispense connector may be configured to be compatible
with particular dispense systems used by an end-user. Existing
dispense systems may vary from industry to industry. In some cases,
a variety of dispense systems may be used in a particular industry,
depending on, for example, the configuration of the shipping and
dispense containers that may typically be used in that industry
and/or any other standards or norms that may have developed in a
particular industry for any other reason.
[0049] The various embodiments of storage and dispense systems
described herein may be utilized in any suitable dispense
processes. For example, the various embodiments of storage and
dispense system described herein may be utilized in pressure
dispense processes, including direct and indirect pressure
dispense, pump dispense, and pressure-assisted pump dispense,
including various embodiments of inverted dispense methods
disclosed in Korean patent registration no. 10-0973707, titled
"Apparatus for Supplying Fluid," which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety. Similarly, the various
embodiments of storage and dispense system described herein may be
utilized in traditional manual or automatic pour methods, or any
other suitable means of dispensing the contents of a container
consistent with the intended use of the material, or application
involved. The dispense connector may include features used to
dispense the contents of the liner. In some embodiments, the
dispense connector features may allow for dispense using existing
pressure-dispense systems, for example. Generally, such
pressure-dispense dispense connector features may include a
pressurizing gas inlet that generally permits a gas pressure
in-line to be inserted through or coupled with the dispense
connector and be in fluid communication with the annular space
between the liner 104 and the overpack 102. In such a system, a
pressurizing fluid, gas, or other suitable substance may be
introduced into the annular space, causing the liner to collapse
away from the overpack wall, thereby pushing the contents of the
liner out through a liquid outlet. In one embodiment, for example,
to dispense liquid stored in the liner, the annular space between
the liner and the overpack may be pressurized, as is further
described in International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55558, which was
previously incorporated by reference.
[0050] The use of indirect pressure dispense may be advantageous
over other dispense methods in some cases. For example, the use of
pumps to dispense the contents of a liner can disadvantageously
cause bubbling and/or may put stress on the material and the
system, which may be undesirable because the purity of the contents
of the liner may be crucial. The use of pressure dispense may help
avoid or eliminate these problems. Further, in some cases a higher
rate of dispense may be achieved by pressure dispense as opposed to
pump dispense. Direct pressure dispense methods, however, can cause
gas to be introduced directly into the contents of the liner and
can reduce the purity of the contents of the liner. The use of
indirect pressure dispense may help avoid or eliminate these
problems.
[0051] Although not limited as such, one embodiment of a
closure/connector assembly may be configured to be particularly
useful with liner-based assemblies containing materials used in the
food industry. As may be seen in FIG. 2, a closure/connector
assembly 240 for use in a liner-based system 200 may include a
closure 250 and a plug 260, in some embodiments. As described
above, the container system 220 in some embodiments may include a
liner disposed in an overpack. It will be understood, however, that
any of the liners and/or overpacks as described herein are
contemplated and are within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
[0052] The closure 250 of the closure/connector assembly 240 may
advantageously be configured to be compatible with existing
dispensing systems used by end-users, and/or other existing
technology or machinery that may be used, in the food industry, for
example. As such, by using the closure/connector assembly 240 of
the present disclosure; the advantages described herein related to
the container system (including a liner and/or overpack) may be
realized without requiring a change in end-user technology or
machinery, for example.
[0053] The closure 250 may include a mouth 252 and connecting
features 254, in some embodiments. The mouth 252 may be configured
to allow for easy and/or controlled dispense, in some embodiments.
The mouth 252 of the closure 250 may, or may also, be suitably
sized and shaped so as to be compatible with one or more dispense
systems.
[0054] FIG. 3A shows a cut-away view of a closure 250 of the
present disclosure according to some embodiments, wherein the
closure 250 is coupled to a liner-based container 220. The closure
250 may be coupled to the liner-based container 220 by connecting
features 254, in some embodiments. As may be seen, the mouth 310 of
the overpack may be coupled to the fitment 318 of the liner, in
some embodiments. In one embodiment, as shown, the mouth 310 of the
overpack and the fitment 318 of the liner may be coupled by
complementary threading, though other means of coupling are
possible. In other embodiments, the mouth 310 of the overpack may
be adjacent to, but not coupled to, the fitment 318 of the liner.
The closure 250 may or may also detachably secure to the
liner-based container 220, by connecting features 254 that may be
present on the closure 250 and/or the liner and/or the overpack.
For example, in one embodiment, the connecting features 254 may
comprise internal threading that may be complementary with external
threading on the fitment 318 of the liner and/or external threading
on the mouth 310 of the overpack, for example. It will be
recognized that any other suitable means of detachably securing the
closure 250 to the liner-based container 220 are possible, such as
snap-fit, friction fit, or any other suitable means, or combination
of means.
[0055] The closure 250 may be comprised of any suitable material,
such as metal, plastic, or any other material or combination of
materials. In some embodiments, the closure 250 may be comprised of
a material that may be suitable for use in a sterile environment,
such as those listed above, or any other suitable material, or
combination of materials.
[0056] With reference back to FIG. 2, in some embodiments a fitment
plug 260 may also be included in the closure/connector assembly.
The fitment plug 260 may be inserted into an opening 252 in the
closure 250. In some embodiments the plug 260 may substantially
securely couple with the closure 250 through any suitable method,
or combination of methods, at one or more points. For example, the
plug 260 may have threading that mates with complementary threading
on the interior of the closure mouth 252, for example. In other
embodiments, the plug 260 may have, or may also have snap-fit
and/or friction fit features that may allow the plug to securely
couple to the mouth 252 of the closure 250. In some embodiments,
the plug 260 may generally tightly couple, or be coupled in
generally air tight fashion, to the closure 250 for storage and/or
shipping, but may still be detachable when removal is desired.
[0057] The fitment plug may be used for storage and/or shipping, in
some embodiments, such that contaminants, for example, cannot get
into the container 220, and the contents of the liner cannot get
out of the container 220 until desired. The plug 260 may be
comprised of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, or any
other material or combination of materials. In some embodiments,
the plug 260 may be comprised of a material that may be suitable
for use in a sterile environment, such as those listed above, or
any other suitable material, or combination of materials. The plug
260 may be comprised of the same or different material as the
closure 250. In some embodiments, the plug 260 may be an existing
plug used in the food industry, for example, such as but not
limited to those made by Scholle Packaging, Inc. of Northlake, Ill.
or E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. In this regard, the mouth
252 of the closure 250 may be particularly configured so as to
receive such plug 260. While the foregoing embodiments have been
described as being particularly advantageous for applications in
the food industry, it will be understood that the closure/connector
assembly 240 may be used in conjunction with a shipping and
dispensing container for any desired application and/or in any
desired industry.
[0058] In another embodiment, the closure/connector described above
or any other closure/connector assembly may include a seal that may
help keep the contents of a liner free of contaminants,
particularly when, in some cases, a cap or connector may be removed
and another one may be put on for dispense, for example, and the
contents of the liner might otherwise be exposed during that time,
if not for the seal. The seal 320 shown in FIG. 3D may be a
flexible seal in some embodiments and may be punctured by the probe
of a connector during dispense, such that substantially no air is
introduced into the material contained in the liner prior to
dispense. For example, a liner 340 may be filled with a material M,
as shown in FIG. 3B. In some cases, the fill volume may be
predetermined and controlled. For example, the fill volume may be
determined by measuring and controlling the rate of flow during
fill and the amount of time the material is permitted to fill the
liner. Alternately, the fill volume may be determined by measuring
the weight of the liner based system during the fill process and
stopping the fill process when the predetermined and desired fill
weight has been achieved. Still other methods of predetermining and
controlling the fill volume are contemplated and within the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, once the
liner has been filled, a pressurized fluid or gas may be introduced
into the annular space between the outer walls of the liner 340 and
the inner walls of the overpack 342. The pressure introduced into
the annular space may work to compress the wall of the liner 340 as
shown in FIG. 3C, thereby pushing the material M in the liner 340
up to the top of the liner, removing substantially all of the
undesirable headspace. "Headspace" refers to the amount of gas,
such as air for example, that remains at the top of the liner after
the liner has been filled with a desired substance. Headspace may
be undesirable because the gas may cause foaming, bubbling, stress,
protein damage, and/or gas contamination of the material, for
example, which can be highly undesirable where maintaining the
purity of the contents of the system is important.
[0059] In one embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 9,
a fill process 900 may be utilized that may generally de-gas the
contents of a filled liner at the fill site while also removing
generally all of the headspace in the filled liner prior to sealing
or securing the filled liner for shipping and/or storage. As
discussed above, limiting or substantially eliminating headspace in
a filled liner may be advantageous because it may limit or
substantially eliminate the risk of headspace gas contaminating the
contents of the liner, when for example, the liner-based assembly
is moved during shipping.
[0060] As may be understood in the art, some substances may take up
more or less volume, that is to say they may expand or contract, as
a result of a change in temperature. For example, if the contents
of the liner are filled and generally sealed in the liner at one
temperature, and are then subjected to a change in temperature
during storage or shipping, for example, the substance in the liner
may either expand (with an increase in temperature) or contract
(with a decrease in temperature) as a result. For substances that
may tend to expand with an increasing change in temperature, a risk
exists that the thermal expansion of the substance may put stress
on the liner walls, potentially causing leaks in the liner. This
risk may be even more acute in cases where the headspace is
removed, because in such cases there is no space in the liner not
already taken up with the substance, and so if the substance
expands even a relatively small amount, the pressure may cause
damage to the liner walls and result in a leak. The present
disclosure advantageously provides a solution to this problem,
thereby allowing substantially all headspace to be removed while
also eliminating or substantially minimizing the risk of leaks
occurring in the event of thermal expansion of the substance
contained in the liner.
[0061] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the liner may
be filled with the desired substance wherein the substance is
heated and gas-equilibrated as the liner is being filled with the
substance 902. For example, the substance may be heated when it is
introduced into the liner. In some embodiments the substance may be
heated to the maximum temperature the substance is expected to be
subjected to prior to dispense, including during storage and
shipment. In other embodiments the substance may be heated to any
suitable and desired temperature. In some embodiments, for example,
the substance may be heated to about 40-60.degree. C. during the
fill process. In other cases, the substance may be heated to
between about 50-55.degree. C. In still other embodiments, any
suitable fill temperature may be selected. The liner may be filled
to the top of the liner in some embodiments, leaving generally no
excess space for headspace gas, while in other embodiments there
may be some relatively small amount of space left at the top of the
liner. Once the liner has been filled, the liner may be sealed,
secured, and/or capped in any suitable manner that keeps the
substance within the liner and minimizes or substantially
eliminates exposure of the substance to contaminants outside of the
liner 904. The one or more seals, caps, or other securing mechanism
may be gas impermeable. In some embodiments, some or any headspace
may be removed after a cap or connector is secured to the liner
906. In such embodiments, the annular space between the liner and
the overpack may be pressurized so as to compress the walls of the
liner inward, thereby forcing any headspace out of the liner and
into a holding area in a cap and/or connector, for example, as
described in further detail below. It will be understood, however,
that any suitable method of removing headspace is contemplated and
within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The
substance in the liner may then be allowed to cool to ambient room
temperature 908. As the substance cools, the substance will
generally become under-saturated with respect to room temperature,
i.e. the substance will be substantially degassed. Further, as the
substance cools to room temperature after the liner has been
sealed, the substance may tend to contract. The contracting
substance may provide a small amount of void space in the filled
and secured liner.
[0062] As discussed above, during shipping and/or storage, the
substance in the liner may be subjected to higher temperatures than
the temperature that the substance was cooled to after hot-fill of
the liner. For example the liner-based assembly may be shipped
through a part of the country with relatively higher temperatures,
such as the dessert, for example, that may be higher than room
temperature at the fill site. Accordingly, the substance in the
liner may generally expand as the temperature increases. In some
embodiments, features of the liner and/or overpack may help reduce
or eliminate any stress on the liner resulting from the substance
expanding. For example, in some embodiments, the liner and/or
overpack may have surface features such as panels described above
that may allow the liner to expand when pressure is applied. The
panels 138 may be concave, as shown in FIG. 1B for example, until
pressure is exerted on them from the inside of the liner, e.g. by
thermal expansion of the contents of the liner. While panels have
been specifically described above, it will be understood that any
suitable surface feature that may generally allow the liner to
expand as the substance in the liner expands, is contemplated and
within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Further, as
described above, when the substance is cooled after being
hot-filled and sealed, the substance contracting may also provide
some additional space in the liner that may allow the substance to
later thermally expand without putting stress on the liner walls.
The fill method described herein may advantageously allow the liner
to be substantially completely filled, remain free of headspace
gas, while still allowing for a degree of thermal expansion of the
substance, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating the
potential for thermal expansion related damage, contamination, or
leaks.
[0063] In some embodiments of headspace removal, particularly with
respect to more delicate container systems, such as those with thin
liner walls, any non-conformal fit between the inner liner 104 and
the overpack 102 could result in a potential product failure during
shipping simulation. That is, pressurizing the annular space in
order to remove the headspace, as described herein, generally
causes an intentional deformation in the liner away from the
overpack, which could, but does not always, lead to container
failure or failure of the container to meet required
specifications, during, for example, shipping. Thus, in some
embodiments, additional or alternative steps may be taken in the
headspace removal process to avoid such deformation, or reduce the
resulting effect of such deformation.
[0064] For example, in some embodiments, during the headspace
removal process, both the liner and outerpack may be collapsed in
general uniformity. To accomplish this, in one embodiment,
illustrated in FIG. 10, which illustrates a liner-based storage and
dispensing system 1000 having a liner (not visible) positioned
within an overpack 1002 and chime 1004 and including a closure 1006
operably coupled with the liner and/or overpack, a one-way valve or
check valve 1008 may be provided through which headspace removal
may be effected. In one embodiment, the one-way valve 1008 may be
operably or integrally included with the closure 1006. The one-way
valve 1008 may be configured or provided such that it is in fluid
communication with the interior of the liner and permits gas flow
in the direction from the interior of the liner to an external side
of the closure 1006. As may be appreciated, the closure 1006 may
also include a port 1010 in communication with the annular space
between the liner and overpack, which may be used to dispense the
contents of the liner via indirect pressure dispense, as described
herein. In order to effect headspace removal, upon filling of the
liner and capping of the liner with closure 1006, the annular space
port 1010 (if provided) may first be capped such that no gas may
enter the annular space between the liner and overpack. After
capping the annular space port 1010, a vacuum may be applied, such
as by connecting a vacuum source, to the one-way valve, which is in
communication with the interior of the liner, to evacuate any
headspace within the interior of the liner. This may cause
substantially uniform collapsing, albeit typically minimal, of both
the liner and overpack 1002, which can avoid or reduce deformation
in the liner away from the overpack, which may be disadvantage in
some cases, as described above. When the desired amount, often all
or substantially all, of headspace is evacuated from the interior
of the liner, the vacuum source may be removed from the one-way
valve 1008. The one-way valve 1008 may be removed, if desired in
some embodiments. However, the one-way valve 1008 could be left
with the closure 1006 and by nature of its one-way characteristics
should otherwise keep any air from migrating back into the liner.
In further embodiments, the one-way valve may be capped for added
protection. In other embodiments, in addition to the vacuum source
or as an alternative thereto, the headspace may be removed by
applying a pressure to the overpack. Because the annular space port
1010 is capped, the pressure on the overpack may cause a pressure
to be applied to the liner and the headspace may therefore be
forced out via the one-way valve 1008. The package may then be
ready for transporting to an end user, and upon arrival at the end
user site, the material contained inside the liner should maintain
the evacuated level of headspace. While discussed herein as a check
valve, the valve could be any suitable one-way valve, including but
not limited to, a bleeder valve or the like.
[0065] In still other embodiments, the annular space need not be
pressurized and the headspace need not be removed. Indeed, many
embodiments may not require such processing. Whether or not
headspace is removed, a seal, and in some embodiments a flexible
seal may be applied to the outlet of the liner, including applying
the seal to the interior space of the fitment of the liner, such
that when the seal is applied, the contents of the liner may not
escape. The seal may be comprised of any suitable material or
combination of materials, including but not limited to plastic,
rubber, elastomeric or any other suitable material. The seal may be
any suitable type of seal, including but not limited to, what may
be referred to as a flat seal in some embodiments, or what may be
referred to as a blabber seal in other embodiments that may be
placed further down the neck of the fitment of the liner. The seal
may be form fit to the interior of the neck of the liner, may be
heat sealed, adhered, or otherwise fitted to the interior of the
neck of the liner. In other embodiments, the seal may be fitted to
the top of the neck of the liner. Once the seal has been applied,
any pressure applied to the annular space from the above described
optional headspace removal steps may be removed from the annular
space, and a shipping and/or storage cap or other closure/connector
assembly described herein may be coupled to the liner and/or
overpack for storage and/or shipping. The end-user may then store
and/or dispense the contents of the container. When it is desired
to dispense the contents of the liner, the contents may be removed
through the mouth of the liner using any suitable dispense method,
such as by pressure dispense, including direct and indirect
pressure dispense, pump dispense, pressure-assisted pump dispense,
inverted dispense, pouring, or any other suitable means of
dispensing the contents of a container consistent with the intended
use of the material, or application involved, as described above.
In some embodiments, a dispense connector, configured for a
particular dispense method, may be affixed to the liner-based
system in preparation for removal of the contents of the liner. The
dispense connector may be configured to be compatible with
particular dispense systems used by an end-user, which may vary
from industry to industry. For example, when dispense of the
contents of the liner is desired, dispense connector 326 may be
coupled to the liner and/or overpack. Depending on the embodiment
used, the shipping/storage cap may also serve as a dispense
connector; the dispense connector may be secured to the
shipping/storage cap; or the shipping/storage cap may be removed
and the dispense connector may be secured to the liner and/or
overpack. The seal may be so positioned that when the dispense
connector 326 is coupled to the liner and/or overpack, a connector
probe 328 may generally rest very near or gently against the
surface of the seal, but may not puncture the seal, as shown in
FIG. 3D. The probe 328 tip may be sharp and in some cases may be
generally very sharp. When pressure dispense begins, such as by
introducing a gas into the annular space between the liner and
overpack, the pressure introduced into the annular space may
compress the liner walls and force the material in the liner upward
generally pushing the flexible seal up toward the sharp tip of the
connector probe 328, thereby puncturing the seal and allowing the
contents of the liner to be dispensed. Advantageously, this
embodiment may help keep substantially any air from being
introduced into the material of the liner prior to actual
dispense.
[0066] One particular embodiment of the present disclosure is shown
in FIG. 3E. The liner-based system may include some or all of an
overpack 346, a liner 348, positioning device 378, cap 354, holding
cap 352, dispense connector 356, and an absorbent 374. The overpack
346 may be comprised of any suitable material or combination of
materials including those described herein. For example, the
overpack may be comprised of metal or may be blow molded from PE.
The mouth of the overpack 346 may be large enough to allow a liner
348 to be inserted therethrough when the liner is in a collapsed
state. The liner 348 may be any suitable liner comprised of any
suitable material described herein. In one embodiment, the liner
may be a liner with pre-folds, for example, that may allow the
liner to collapse, inflate, and re-collapse in a predetermined
manner, as described in International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55558,
previously incorporated herein in its entirety. The liner 348 may
include a septum seal 366. The septum seal may be comprised of any
suitable material, including but not limited to a silicone septum.
In some embodiments, the seal may further include a foil barrier
368. The foil barrier 368 may help lower permeation across the
septum so as to maintain the purity and/or sterility of the
material in the liner. The cap 354 may include a fill inlet, a
pressure port 364, and/or a vent, and may generally hold the liner
348 in place inside of the overpack 346. One or more additional
closures and/or holders may couple with the cap 354 for filling
and/or dispensing material from the liner. For example, a holding
cap 352 may be secured to the cap 354. A fill and/or dispense
connector 356 may then be coupled to the cap 354 and/or the holding
cap 352, in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the cap 354 may
not need a holding cap 352 and may itself be directly compatible
with a connector 356. The connector 356 may include a plunger 360.
The plunger may include a piercing "needle"-tipped probe that may
penetrate the septum seal 366. When the tip is piercing the septum
seal, the plunger may be lowered with the "needle" tip in order to
prevent bubbles from entering the dispensing connector. The plunger
may then be withdrawn from the tip area to allow flow after
insertion of the tip into the liner.
[0067] An absorbent, desiccant or getter 374 may be positioned in
the annular space between the liner 346 and the overpack 348. The
getter 374 may generally absorb moisture and/or oxygen and thereby
prevent the moisture from seeping into the liner and contaminating
the contents of the liner. One or more getters and/or absorbents
may be used.
[0068] The liner-based system 344 may also include one or more
positioning devices 378 that may help stabilize the liner within
the overpack 346. The positioning devices 378 may be comprised of
any suitable material including, but not limited to plastic, metal,
rubber, wood, or any other suitable material. The device 378 may
take any suitable shape and/or configuration such that the device
may help position and in some cases vertically position and/or
stabilize the liner within the overpack. For example, in some
embodiments the bottom of the liner may be rounded, or have another
geometry that may be generally different than the bottom of the
overpack. Accordingly, a positioning device may be shaped and
placed in such a manner as to fill any void area in the overpack
that is not taken up by the liner, for example. Other embodiments
of liner-based systems disclosed herein may include one or more of
the features discussed with reference to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 3E.
[0069] In another embodiment, a closure/connector assembly may
include a closure 400, as shown in FIG. 4 and/or a dispense
connector 500, as shown in FIG. 5. The closure 400, shown in FIG.
4, may include a vent 412, a reservoir 416, and a cap 422, in some
embodiments. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the closure 400 may
be used as a fill connector for filling as well as a closure or cap
that may used during storage and/or shipping. The closure 400 may
be comprised of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, or
any other material or combination of materials. In some
embodiments, the closure 400 may be comprised of a material that
may be suitable for use in a sterile environment, such as those
listed above, or any other suitable material, or combination of
materials.
[0070] As was described above, the typical use cycle for a
liner-based system may include filling a liner with material,
typically by using a fill connector coupled to the liner and/or an
overpack; sealing the liner-based system with a closure or cap for
storage and/or transport, by either integrating the closure with
the fill connector, or by removing the fill connector and securing
a separate closure; transporting the secured filled container to an
end-user for dispense, whereby the end-user may, in some cases,
remove the fill connector and/or closure and affix a dispense
connector prior to dispense.
[0071] As previously stated, the closure 400 may be used as a fill
connector that may also include advantageous features for storage
and/or transport. In some embodiments the closure 400 may include a
vent 412, for example and integrated vent as shown, that may allow
a gas, for example air, or nitrogen (N.sub.2) to escape during
and/or after the filling process. As discussed above, gas that may
become trapped in a filled container may generally be referred to
as headspace. Headspace may be undesirable because the gas may
cause foaming, bubbling, stress, protein damage, and/or gas
contamination of the material, for example, which can be highly
undesirable where maintaining the purity of the contents of the
system is important. The negative consequences of headspace may be
increased when the filled container is transported, as a result of
the movement of the contents of the container during transport,
which may further agitate the gas, and consequently contaminate the
contents of the liner. Accordingly, removing headspace may be
advantageous or highly advantageous. The headspace may be removed
by introducing a suitable gas or fluid into the annular space
between the liner and the overpack once the liner has been filled.
The increased pressure in the annular space may push the liner in
upon itself, thereby forcing out any excess gas in the liner. In
some embodiments, the excess gas in the liner may escape through
the vent 412.
[0072] In some embodiments, once the headspace is removed via the
vent as described above, overflow of the contents of the container
may collect in the reservoir 416. Overflow may be described as the
portion of the contents of a filled liner that may not fit within
the liner as a result of excess material or folds in the liner, for
example. Alternately, or in addition, overflow may occur as a
result of the process to remove headspace as discussed above.
Typically, overflow is undesirable because the overflow material is
not usuable. However, in some embodiments and applications,
overflow may advantageously be used to help seal the system for
storage and/or transport. For example, where the contents of the
liner are an adhesive, for example, and particularly a reactive
adhesive that requires curing, for example by ultraviolet light,
the overflow that flows into the reservoir 416 as a result of the
headspace removal process may be cured. Curing the overflow
adhesive may result in a seal being created that may secure the
contents of the liner for storage and/or shipping. Once such a seal
has been created, in some embodiments, a cap 422 may be secured to
the closure for storage and/or transport. The cap 422 may couple to
the closure 400 by any suitable means, including by snap fit,
complementary threading, or any other suitable method or
combination of methods.
[0073] Once the headspace gas has been removed via the vent 412,
the seal has been created in the reservoir 416 in some embodiments,
and the cap 422 has been secured, the filled container may be
transported to the end user. When the end user is ready to dispense
some or all of the contents of the liner, the closure 400 may be
removed, and replaced with a dispense connector 500 as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0074] The dispense connector 500 may be any suitable dispense
connector 500 that may be compatible for use with the desired
method of dispense including, for example, pressure dispense,
pressure-assisted pump dispense, pump dispense, inverted dispense,
pouring, or any other method of dispense, as described previously
herein. For example, as may be seen in FIG. 5, in some embodiments,
a dispense connector configured for pressure dispense may be
coupled to the container for dispense. Such a pressure dispense
connector may include dispense features that allow for pressure
dispense as were described earlier with regard to the previous
embodiment. In some embodiments the dispense connector may be
disposable and configured for a one-time use; however, in other
embodiments the dispense connector is typically configured for
repeated use.
[0075] The dispense connector may be comprised of any suitable
material, such as metal, plastic, or any other material or
combination of materials. In some embodiments, the dispense
connector may be comprised of a material that may be suitable for
use in a sterile environment, such as those listed above, or any
other suitable material, or combination of materials.
[0076] Embodiments of liners of the present disclosure, in some
cases, may be dispensed at pressures less than about 100 psi, or
more preferably at pressures less than about 50 psi, and still more
preferably at pressures less than about 20 psi. In some cases, the
contents of the liners of some embodiments, however, may be
dispensed at significantly lower pressures, as may be desirable,
depending on the intended use or application involved.
[0077] In additional embodiments, a dispense assembly, including
the connector, may also include control components to control the
incoming gas and outgoing liquid. For example, a controller can be
operably coupled to control components to control the dispense of
the liquid from the liner. One or more transducers may also be
included in some embodiments to sense the inlet and/or outlet
pressure. In this regard, such control components may be utilized
to detect when the liner is near empty. Means for controlling such
dispense of fluid from the liner and determining when a liner nears
empty are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,096,
entitled "Liquid Dispensing System," issued Feb. 6, 2007 and PCT
Application Number PCT/US07/70911, entitled "Liquid Dispensing
Systems Encompassing Gas Removal," with an international filing
date of Jun. 11, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety, and International Patent Application
No. PCT/US2011/055558, hereby incorporated herein in its
entirety.
[0078] In an additional or alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 6,
an empty detect mechanism may include a liner and overpack system
602 that may be operably connected to an indirect pressure
dispensing assembly 604. The dispense assembly 604 may include a
pressure transducer or sensor 606, a pressure solenoid or other
control valve 608, and a vent solenoid or other control valve 610.
A microcontroller may be used to control the pressure solenoid 608
and/or the vent solenoid 610. The outlet liquid pressure may be
read and measured by the pressure transducer 606. If the pressure
is too low, i.e. lower than a set value, the pressure solenoid 608
may be turned on for a period of time (P.sub.on), thereby causing
more pressurizing gas or other substance to be introduced into the
annular space between the overpack and liner and raising the outlet
liquid pressure. If the pressure is too high, i.e. higher than a
predetermined value, the vent solenoid 610 may be turned on for a
period of time (P.sub.vent), somewhat relieving the pressure in the
annular space between the overpack and liner, and thus the outlet
liquid pressure. As may be seen in FIG. 7, as the contents of the
liner near empty, the liquid pressure drops 710. The drop in liquid
pressure triggers the pressure solenoid to turn on for a longer
period of time. The increase in the time that the pressure solenoid
is turned on (P.sub.on) rises rapidly as the liner nears empty 712.
Accordingly, the amount of time that the pressure valve is on
(P.sub.on) may be used to determine when the endpoint of the
dispense has been reached.
[0079] Alternatively or additionally, the frequency of the on/off
switching of the inlet pressure solenoid may be monitored. As
indicated above, as the liner approaches empty, the inlet pressure
will need to increase in order to maintain the constant liquid
outlet pressure. The inlet pressure solenoid may thus switch on/off
at a higher frequency as the liner nears empty to permit the
required amount of pressurized gas into the annular space between
the liner and the container. This frequency of the on/off switching
can be a useful empty detect indicator. Empty detect mechanisms
such as those disclosed herein, may help save time and energy, and
consequently money.
[0080] After dispense is completed or substantially completed and
the liner is empty or substantially empty, the end-user may dispose
of the liner-based system, and/or recycle or reuse some or all of
the liner-based system, including some or all of the
closure/connector assembly. In order to assist in making the
dispensers described herein more sustainable, the dispensers or one
or more components thereof, including any overpack, liner(s),
handles, etc., may be manufactured from biodegradable materials or
biodegradable polymers, including but not limited to:
polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), like poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB),
polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH);
polylactic acid (PLA); polybutylene succinate (PBS);
polycaprolactone (PCL); polyanhydrides; polyvinyl alcohol; starch
derivatives; cellulose esters, like cellulose acetate and
nitrocellulose and their derivatives (celluloid); etc. Similarly,
in some embodiments, and if suitable for the industry application,
the dispensers or one or more components thereof may be
manufactured from materials that can be recycled or recovered, and
in some embodiments, used in another process by the same or a
different end user, thereby allowing such end user(s) to lessen
their impact on the environment or lower their overall emissions.
For example, in one embodiment, the dispensers or one or more
components thereof may be manufactured from materials that may be
incinerated, such that the heat generated therefrom may be captured
and incorporated or used in another process by the same or
different end user. In general the dispensers or one or more
components thereof may be manufactured from materials that can be
recycled, or that may be converted into raw materials that may be
used again.
[0081] In one embodiment of the present disclosure a storage and
dispense system 800 may include an additional optional packaging
element 820, in which the liner and overpack 802 may be positioned.
The packaging element 820 may be used to store, transport, and/or
carry the liner and overpack 802, in some cases relatively easily.
The packaging element 820 may generally be a box configured from a
corrugated material, such as but not limited to cardboard. However,
in other embodiments, the packaging element 820 may be comprised of
any suitable material or combination of materials including paper,
wood, metal, glass, or plastic, for example. The packaging element
820 may include one or more reinforcing elements 830 that may
provide support and/or stability for the liner and overpack 802
disposed therein. A reinforcing element 830 may be positioned at
any appropriate or desired height in the packaging element 820. For
example, as may be seen in FIG. 8, one reinforcing element 830 may
be provided near the top of the body of the overpack and liner 802.
However, in other embodiments, one or more reinforcing elements may
be positioned at other areas of the overpack, for example at the
bottom of the overpack, or the middle of the overpack. In still
another embodiment, the reinforcing element may generally fill
substantially all of, or some portion of the space not taken up by
the liner and overpack. The reinforcing element(s) 830 may be
comprised of any suitable material or combination of materials,
such as but not limited to the materials listed above for the
packaging element. In some embodiments, the reinforcing element(s)
830 may be comprised of the same material as the remainder of the
packaging element 820, although use of the same materials is not
necessary. The packaging element 820 may also have one or more
handles or handle slots/openings 840 that may make the packaging
element 820 relatively easy to move and/or carry. The packaging
element 820 may be any desired shape, and in some cases may be a
generally rectangular box, as shown. A plurality of systems, such
as those shown in FIG. 8, may be easily and conveniently packed for
storage and/or shipping due to the rectangular box shape of the
packaging element. Additionally, the packaging element may further
protect the liner and overpack disposed therein from exposure, such
as exposure to potentially harmful UV rays.
[0082] In some embodiments including a packaging element 820, the
liner and overpack system may not include a handle or chime because
the storage unit 820 may provide handle slots/openings and the
support otherwise provided by the chime. Accordingly, a cost
associated with the liner and overpack related to the handle and/or
chime may be reduced or eliminated in such embodiments.
Nonetheless, in other embodiments, the liner and overpack may still
include a handle and/or chime in embodiments including a packaging
element.
[0083] To aid in dispense, such as but not limited to, in pump
dispense applications, any of the liner-based systems of the
present disclosure may include an embodiment that has a dip tube
extending any suitable distance into the liner. In other
embodiments, the liner-based systems of the present disclosure may
not include a dip tube, such as for some pressure dispense or
inverted dispense applications. In alternative embodiments, each
embodiment of a potentially self-supporting liner described herein,
may be shipped without an overpack and placed in a pressurizing
vessel at the receiving facility in order to dispense the contents
of the liner.
[0084] In some embodiments, the liner-based systems described above
may also include features for helping prevent or limit choke-off.
Generally speaking, choke-off may be described as what occurs when
a liner ultimately collapses on itself, or a structure internal to
the liner, to form a choke point disposed above a substantial
amount of liquid. When choke-off occurs, it may preclude complete
utilization of the liquid disposed within the liner, which can be a
significant problem, as many materials used in the biotechnology
and/or pharmaceutical industry, for example, can be very expensive.
A variety of ways of preventing or handling choke-off are described
in PCT Application Number PCT/US08/52506, entitled, "Prevention Of
Liner Choke-off In Liner-based Pressure Dispensation System," with
an international filing date of Jan. 30, 2008, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional ways
of preventing or handling choke-off are described in International
PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55558, titled, "Substantially Rigid
Collapsible Liner, Container and/or Liner for Replacing Glass
Bottles, and Enhanced Flexible Liners," filed Oct. 10, 2011, which
was previously incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0085] In some embodiments, the controlled and varied introduction
of pressurized gas or liquid into the annular space between the
inside of the container wall and the outside of the liner wall may
be used to mix the contents of the liner. For example, a controlled
cycle of pressurization and depressurization resulting in
compression and relaxation of the liner may cause the contents of
the liner to mix. In use, this embodiment would allow for the
sterile mixing of the contents of the liner without the need for
impellers or paddles. Because introducing objects into the interior
of the liner may increase the risk of contamination, not needing to
introduce impellers or paddles into the liner may advantageously
help minimize the risk of contamination.
[0086] In some embodiments, the dispensers described herein may
include symbols and/or writing that is molded into the dispensers
or one or more components thereof. Such symbols and/or writing may
include, but is not limited to names, logos, instructions,
warnings, etc. Such molding may be done during or after the
manufacturing process of the dispensers or one or more components
thereof. In one embodiment, such molding may be readily
accomplished during the fabrication process by, for example,
embossing the mold for the dispensers or one or more components
thereof. The molded symbols and/or writing may be used, for
example, to differentiate products.
[0087] In some embodiments, one or more colors and/or absorbant
materials may be added to the materials of the dispensers or one or
more components thereof during or after the manufacturing process
to help protect the contents of the dispensers from the external
environment, to decorate the dispensers, or to use as an indicator
or identifier of the contents within the dispensers or otherwise to
differentiate multiple dispensers, etc. Colors may be added using,
for example, dyes, pigments, nanoparticles, or any other suitable
mechanism. Absorbant materials may include materials that absorb
ultraviolet light, infrared light, and/or radio frequency signals,
etc.
[0088] Similarly, in some embodiments, the dispensers or one or
more components thereof may be provided with different textures or
finishes. As with color and molded symbols and/or writing, the
different textures or finishes may be used to differentiate
products, to provide an indicator of the contents provided within
the dispensers, or to identify for which application or
applications the contents are to be used, etc. In one embodiment,
the texture or finish may be designed to be a substantially
non-slip texture or finish or the like, and including or adding
such a texture or finish to the dispensers or one or more
components thereof may help improve graspability or handling of the
packaging system, and thereby reduce or minimize the risk of
dropping of the dispensers. The texture or finish may be readily
accomplished during the fabrication process by, for example,
providing a mold for the dispensers or one or more components
thereof with the appropriate surface features. In other
embodiments, the molded dispensers may be coated with the texture
or finish. In some embodiments, the texture or finish may be
provided on substantially the entire dispenser or substantially the
entirety of one or more components thereof. However, in other
embodiments, the texture or finish may be provided on only a
portion of the dispenser or a portion of one or more components
thereof.
[0089] Similarly, in some embodiments, the exterior and/or interior
walls of the dispensers or one or more components thereof may have
any suitable coating provided thereon. The coating may increase
material compatibility, decrease permeability, increase strength,
increase pinhole resistance, increase stability, provide
anti-static capabilities or otherwise reduce static, etc. Such
coatings can include coatings of polymers or plastic, metal, glass,
adhesives, etc. and may be applied during the manufacturing process
by, for example coating a preform used in blow-molding, or may be
applied post manufacturing, such as by spraying, dipping, filling,
etc.
[0090] In some embodiments, the liner-based system may include one
or more handles, which may be operably or integrally attached with
the liner and/or overpack. The one or more handles can be of any
shape or size, and may be located at any suitable position on the
dispensers. Types of handles can include, but are not limited to,
handles that are located at the top and/or sides; are ergonomic;
are removable or detachable; are molded into the dispensers or are
provided after fabrication of the dispensers (such as by, for
example, snap fit, adhesive, riveting, screwed on, bayonet-fit,
etc.); etc. Different handles and/or handling options can be
provided and may depend on, for example but not limited to, the
anticipated contents of the dispenser, the application for the
dispensers, the size and shape of the dispensers, the anticipated
dispensing system for the dispensers, etc. A handle may provide
means for more easily lifting or transporting the overpack and/or
liner.
[0091] In order to assist in making the dispensers described herein
more sustainable, the dispensers or one or more components thereof,
including any overpack, liner(s), handles, etc., may be
manufactured from biodegradable materials or biodegradable
polymers, including but not limited to: polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHAs), like poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate
(PHV), and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH); polylactic acid (PLA);
polybutylene succinate (PBS); polycaprolactone (PCL);
polyanhydrides; polyvinyl alcohol; starch derivatives; cellulose
esters, like cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose and their
derivatives (celluloid); etc.
[0092] In some embodiments, the dispensers may include two or more
layers, such as an overpack and a liner, multiple overpacks, or
multiple liners. In further embodiments, a dispenser may include at
least three layers, which may help ensure enhanced containment of
the contents therein, increase structural strength, and/or decrease
permeability, etc. Any of the layers may be made from the same or
different materials, such as but not limited to, the materials
previously discussed herein.
[0093] In some embodiments, and if suitable for the industry
application, the dispensers or one or more components thereof may
be manufactured from materials that can be recycled or recovered,
and in some embodiments, used in another process by the same or a
different end user, thereby allowing such end user(s) to lessen
their impact on the environment or lower their overall emissions.
For example, in one embodiment, the dispensers or one or more
components thereof may be manufactured from materials that may be
incinerated, such that the heat generated therefrom may be captured
and incorporated or used in another process by the same or
different end user. In general the dispensers or one or more
components thereof may be manufactured from materials that can be
recycled, or that may be converted into raw materials that may be
used again.
[0094] In some embodiments, structural features may be designed
into the dispensers that add strength and integrity to the
dispensers or one or more components thereof. For example, the base
(or chime in some embodiments), top, and sides of the dispensers
may all be areas that experience increased shake and external
forces during filling, transportation, installation, and use (e.g.,
dispensing). Accordingly, in one embodiment, added thickness or
structural edifices (e.g., bridge tressel design) may be added to
support stressed regions of the dispensers, which can add strength
and integrity to the dispensers. Furthermore, any connection region
in the dispensers may also experience increased stress during use.
Accordingly, any of these such regions may include structural
features that add strength through, for example, increased
thickness and/or specifically tailored designs. In further
embodiments, the use of triangular shapes could be used to add
increased strength to any of the above described structures;
however, other designs or mechanical support features may be
used.
[0095] In some embodiments, the dispensers or one or more
components thereof, including any overpack or liner(s), may include
reinforcement features, such as but not limited to, a mesh,
fiber(s), epoxy, or resin, etc. that may be integrated or added to
the dispensers or one or more components thereof, or portions
thereof, in order to add reinforcement or strength. Such
reinforcement may assist in high pressure dispense applications, or
in applications for dispensing high viscosity contents or corrosive
contents.
[0096] In some embodiments, the dispensers may include level
sensing features or sensors. Such level sensing features or sensors
may use visual, electronic, ultrasonic, or other suitable
mechanisms for identifying, indicating, or determining the level of
the contents stored in the dispensers. For example, in one
embodiment, the dispensers or a portion thereof may be made from a
substantially translucent or transparent material that may be used
to view the level of the contents stored therein.
[0097] In further embodiments, flow metering technology may be
integrated into or operably coupled with the connectors for a
direct measurement of material being delivered from the packaging
system to a downstream process. A direct measurement of the
material being delivered could provide the end user with data which
may help ensure process repeatability or reproducibility. In one
embodiment, the flow meter may provide an analog or digital readout
of the material flow. The flow meter, or other component of the
system, can take the characteristics of the material (including but
not limited to viscosity and concentration) and other flow
parameters into consideration to provide an accurate flow
measurement. Additionally, or alternatively, the flow meter can be
configured to work with, and accurately measure, a specific
material stored and dispensed from the dispenser. In one
embodiment, the inlet pressure can be cycled, or adjusted, to
maintain a substantially constant outlet pressure or flow rate.
[0098] The various shipping and dispensing system embodiments of
the present disclosure have several advantages over traditional
packaging systems. Many of the advantages have been noted
throughout the application and include, but are not limited to the
above advantages of the disclosed liner-based system coupled with a
closure/connector that may allow for compatibility with existing
dispense systems in particular industries, for example, the
adhesives industry or food industry. Other advantages will be
recognized by those skilled in the art and may vary from industry
application to industry application.
[0099] Some embodiments of the features described above are
described in further detail in International PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US11/55558, titled, "Substantially Rigid Collapsible Liner,
Container and/or Liner for Replacing Glass Bottles, and Enhanced
Flexible Liners," filed Oct. 10, 2011, which was previously
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0100] In the foregoing description various embodiments of the
invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The
embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principals of the invention and its practical
application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably
entitled.
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