EP1101080B1 - Behältnis und verfahren zur aufbewarung / zum transport einer flüssigen substanz - Google Patents

Behältnis und verfahren zur aufbewarung / zum transport einer flüssigen substanz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1101080B1
EP1101080B1 EP99935995A EP99935995A EP1101080B1 EP 1101080 B1 EP1101080 B1 EP 1101080B1 EP 99935995 A EP99935995 A EP 99935995A EP 99935995 A EP99935995 A EP 99935995A EP 1101080 B1 EP1101080 B1 EP 1101080B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
dispensing
fluent substance
flow channel
filling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99935995A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1101080A1 (de
EP1101080A4 (de
Inventor
Edwin D. Neas
Dennis L. Templar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Chata Biosystems Inc
Original Assignee
Chata Biosystems Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP1101080A1 publication Critical patent/EP1101080A1/de
Publication of EP1101080A4 publication Critical patent/EP1101080A4/de
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Publication of EP1101080B1 publication Critical patent/EP1101080B1/de
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts
    • B65D75/5872—Non-integral spouts
    • B65D75/5883—Non-integral spouts connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/40—Packages formed by enclosing successive articles, or increments of material, in webs, e.g. folded or tubular webs, or by subdividing tubes filled with liquid, semi-liquid, or plastic materials
    • B65D75/44—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes
    • B65D75/48—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes containing liquids, semiliquids, or pastes, e.g. cushion-shaped packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D3/0019—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes using ingredient cartridges
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/14—Details; Accessories therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2205/00—General identification or selection means
    • A61J2205/10—Bar codes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2205/00—General identification or selection means
    • A61J2205/30—Printed labels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
    • B65D2203/06—Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the packaging into a suitable container and transport over some distance, of fluids in liquid form destined for use in a "downstream", or subsequent, manufacturing/product-fabrication/test process.
  • This disclosure is, by and large, not concerned with the transport and administering of medical solutions for mammalian use/consumption (including intravenous delivery of medicines and nutrients to humans and other mammals).
  • the present invention relates to the novel containment for shipping and ultimate dispensing (preferably gravity fed) for ready use in a manufacturing/product-fabrication/test process (whether the process is deemed part of a commercial enterprise or done in a basic-research facility), of "fluent" substances from the same flexible vessel- without the need for mid-stream staging containers.
  • the flexible walls of the vessel have an outwardly-facing identification indicia (for purposes of tracking/quality control and inventory) and are preferably made of a flexible material compatible with the fluent contents.
  • a portable framework is used to support the vessel when dispensing its contents.
  • IV intravenous fluid
  • Modern human and veterinary medicine conveniently uses intravenous fluid ("IV") bags for bedside administration of medicine, nutrients, and other solutions (water, saline solution, dialysis solutions, etc.) to patients in hospitals, nursing-care facilities, clinics, mobile critical-care transporters (life-flight helicopters, ambulances, and medically-equipped airplanes), and to patients who are well enough to have been sent home.
  • IV intravenous fluid
  • the bag is filled with still wine, shipped, and stored intact until a keeper ring is stripped away so that a sharp plunger is free to thrust inwardly to pierce the bag.
  • this tent structure bag can stand up on a table for dispensing, it has not been seen in general use. But rather, wine bags seen in kitchen refrigerators are supported by rectangular cardboard boxes designed for dispensing in a horizontal orientation.
  • wall-compatibility is an important design consideration of storage vessels (due to the need to use containers made of materials that are substantially inert with respect to corrosion and do not leach extractables into the solutions they contain) - wall-compatibility can no longer be the only major design consideration of solution storage vessels. This is especially true as shipping and handling costs continue to sharply increase; such costs include the additional labor of skilled technicians that must be employed to properly measure/dispense and carefully use (without contaminating) the solutions, the cost of brittle-container breakage during shipment and/or use, as well as costs associated with the sheer weight of hard walled containers.
  • the novel apparatus and method of containing for transport and dispensing a fluent substance as well as the novel method of building an order for replenishing stock, disclosed herein are targeted to processes performed in connection with commercial as well as basic research purposes-including the fabrication and/or analysis/test of products and constituents thereof, whether the product is headed for commercial sale; bench-testing of products and their constituents; beaker cleaning; and so on.
  • the new apparatus for transporting a fluent substance and method were developed to address the problems associated with shipping heavy, breakable hard-walled containers which are cumbersome to use and store in a manufacturing/test environment.
  • the new apparatus and method offer a lower-cost and less labor-intensive alternative that utilizes space more-efficiently while at the same time provides sufficient durability.
  • the flexible-walled vessels can be fabricated from many suitable materials into many different shapes and sizes, filled with countless different types of reagents, cleaning solutions, solvents, pesticides and other fluent substances, then transported to, and used in, production/test environments (including food production) throughout the world.
  • US-A-2,831,610 discloses a light weight, disposable container according to the preamble of appended claim 1, and which can be used for the storage, transportation and dispensing of milk or other liquids in relatively small amounts.
  • the disposable container has a liquid holding type of liner bag in a cardboard carton and means for emptying the contents of the bag through a nozzle having attached thereto a hose which extends through a flap on one side of the carton without exposing the contents of the bag to air.
  • US-A-3,112,047 discloses a container comprising a box, a rigid liquid-tight flexible bag in said box, said bag being in a flat collapsed condition when empty and supported by the walls of said box when filled with liquid, means on said bag to provide for filling and emptying the bag, and means to hold up one end of said bag in said box while the contents of the bag are emptied from the opposite end.
  • US-A-5,507,525 discloses a label for a blood bag comprising a microporous plastic film including a matrix of interconnected pores for allowing gas to flow into and out of the blood bag through a labeled area.
  • the pores allow ink to be absorbed at least on an outer surface of the label allowing the label to be printed and/or written on.
  • the labels have breathability with respect to gas that is similar to paper.
  • the label is more durable than a paper label in that it can tolerate moisture, abrasion, temperature extremes, dimensional changes, and the like. Accordingly, the labels do not crack or wrinkle as easily as paper labels.
  • GB-A-2180217 discloses a container for hydraulic fluid consisting of a closed flexible bag for containing the fluid, and an outlet fitting for dispensing fluid from the bag.
  • the material of the bag is such that it prevents water from penetrating it, and the outlet fitting includes a flexible tube which may be secured in a bung in a sleeve attached to the bag.
  • the flexible tube is preferably sealed closed at its end remote from the bag during storage. A clamp seals the flexible tube when the end has been cut off to dispense fluid.
  • the bag is preferably located within a protective box, the bag collapsing as fluid is dispensed from it through the tube.
  • the present invention provides a production process fluent substance transporting apparatus for transporting a fluent substance for dispensing during a production process that is separate from a filling-site, comprising:
  • the present invention further provides a method of transporting a production process fluent substance for dispensing during a production process, comprising the steps of:
  • the invention includes an apparatus (having a flexible-walled vessel compatible with a fluent substance) for transporting the fluent substance and dispensing during a production/test process.
  • the process (whether it is carried out in a production/manufacturing environment or a research-laboratory environment) is separate from a filling-site where the vessel is filled.
  • the vessel as oriented by a support framework for the dispensing, has an upper-end and a lower-portion.
  • the lower portion has at least one port through which the fluent substance is dispensed during the process. This port is in communication with a primary flow channel and a valve for controlling the dispensing of a preselected amount of the substance as needed.
  • the fluent substance can be selected from the group consisting of liquid reagents, cleaning solutions, solvents, pesticides, and/or other fluent substances used in a production/test type environment (not for direct mammalian consumption).
  • the vessel preferably has an outwardly-facing indicia, and the vessel's upper-end and a lower-end of the vessel's lower-portion can be hermetically formed from sheet material such that: a volume is formed between these two ends having a capacity greater than that required to contain the preselected amount.
  • a second flow channel in communication with a second port of the vessel's lower-end, may be added for filling the vessel at the filling-site (and, once a vessel is filled, this second flow channel can be blocked re-opened for re-filling).
  • the framework if used, can have a multitude of suitable structural designs.
  • the invention also includes a method of transporting a fluent substance for dispensing during a production/test process, including the steps of: providing a flexible-walled vessel with an upper-end and a lower-portion having at least one port in communication with a primary flow channel and a valve; filling the vessel, for the transporting, with the fluent substance at a filling-site that is separate from the production/test process; orienting the vessel (can be by way of a support framework); and dispensing through the valve, as needed, a preselected amount of the fluent substance.
  • the flexible-walls are made of a material compatible with the fluent substance and the vessel has an outwardly-facing indicia (whether coded).
  • the fluent substance can be selected from the many reagents, pesticides, and cleaning and other solutions.
  • the steps include: reading the indicia; transmitting at least a part of the information provided by the indicia to a remote processor; accessing a database with the remote processor to search for a package record that corresponds with the indicia information; using the indicia information, update and review an inventory file record (maintained by the remote processor); and generating the order for acceptance and, once accepted, automatically transmitting a request for determining a shipping-carrier and availability of stock at a warehouse.
  • the step of reading the indicia can include using a computerized device to read the portion which is machine-readable, and/or visually reading the indicia and manually inputting a package serial number (PSN) therefrom to an input device at a dispensing location.
  • a first-pass order may be generated and modified (via display), if necessary, prior to acceptance.
  • the step of transmitting indicia information preferably includes connecting to a global information network through a modem interconnected to a computer-processing-unit (CPU) at a dispensing location where the production/test process takes place, and accessing a remote modem interconnected to said remote processor.
  • CPU computer-processing-unit
  • the alternative vessel structure shown in FIG. 5 has an upper-end 27 and a lower-portion 29 having at least one port 26 through which the fluent substance can be dispensed during a production/test process.
  • Port 26 is in communication with a primary flow channel 24B and a valve 24A for controlling the dispensing of a preselected amount of the fluent substance contained in the vessel.
  • the plug-in spout 24 has a sharpened end 24C for insertion at 26 to break the initial seal of a rubber septum (located at 26), a suitable valve 24A for controlling flow along channel 24B.
  • a lower-end, in the form of a wall (25) of suitably flexible material, has been hermetically integrated with vessel 20.
  • the vessel 30 illustrated in FIG. 6 has an upper-end 37 and a lower-portion 39 having at least one port 36 through which the fluent substance is dispensed.
  • port 36 is in communication with a primary flow channel 34B and an interlocking pinch-clip valve 34A that is engaged to pinch the walls of tubing 34D connected to port 36 via suitable unitary connector 34C.
  • a flowmeter device can be readily added to measure flow out of vessel 30; this flow measurement can readily be converted into a measurement of volume dispensed. Devices that take measurements of fluid flow through an orifice of known diameter are available on the market.
  • the vessel may be made with a single piece of tubing an end of which is hermetically sealed directly to the lower-end 35 (eliminating the use of connector 34C).
  • Many suitable connectors and valves may be employed to control the flow along flexible tubing 34D, such as the unitary plastic valve shown at 34A (pinch-clamp distributed by Fresenius Medical Care AG).
  • upper-end 37 and a lower-end 35 of lower-portion 39 have been hermetically formed from polymeric tubular stock material such that: preferably at least the front of the vessel 30 is transparent for viewing the level of its contents; and a pillow-shaped volume of vessel 30 has been formed between ends 35 and 37 having a capacity greater than that required to contain the preselected amount.
  • primary flow channel 34B has been hermetically sealed to prevent leakage and a support opening 38 is integrated within upper-end 37.
  • primary flow channel 34B could readily be sealed to extend from along a sidewall of vessel 30.
  • Port 36 can be used for filling, as well as the dispensing, of vessel 30; alternatively, a second port 32A in communication with a second flow channel 32B may be desired for filling, and once the vessel has been filled, this second flow channel can be permanently or temporarily blocked.
  • An indicia 31 is affixed to vessel 30 by suitable means such as stick-backed label, silkscreened onto the flexible wall, connected by way of a pull-tag secured through opening 38, and so on.
  • the indicia can, without being overly large in size, contain many different pieces of valuable information about the vessel 30, its contents, and the purchaser of the filled vessel 30, including a package serial number (PSN) tying the vessel to a lot-number of the batch from which it was manufactured/filled, shelf life, the stock material used to form the vessel, and so on.
  • PSN package serial number
  • the value of indicia 31 can be better appreciated in connection with FIGs. 12 and 13 .
  • Framework 40 is formed of forward and aft walls (41 and 42 respectively) and side strut-walls (43, 44) which have been adhesively interconnected, plus a lower aperture 46 through which a primary flow channel can fit for dispensing the fluent substance.
  • framework walls 41, 42, 43, 44 have been made of a transparent, plastic-resin material having sufficient structural integrity to orient vessel 30 upright.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative vessel 50 formed between ends 57 and 55 having indicia 51 and primary flow channel 54B (here again, the plug-in system of the invention is not shown).
  • Flexible tubing 54D may have an integral connector-piece 54C as shown to connect the tubing to the dispensing port.
  • a valve 54A for controlling the dispensing has a knurled set-screw 54E for pinching tubing 54D to stop flow of the substance contained in vessel 50.
  • Second flow channel 52B communicates with a second port 52A for filling along direction (arrow 54); and once filled, suitable plug such as that labeled 53 may be employed to temporarily or permanently block channel 52B.
  • Vessel 50 is oriented by framework 60 having a weighted base 65 and stand 64.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates yet another novel apparatus (plug-in system not shown) wherein vessel 80 with indicia 81 and primary flow channel 84 is hung on a projection 91 of framework 90 having a stand 94 and a base 95 with rollers/wheels at 96 for moving the framework 90 from station-to-station within the production/test process, and dispensing, for example, into a container 89.
  • the flexible-walled vessel is compatible with the fluent substance it contains: Not only is it preferable that the stock material be inert but that the amount of chemical 'extractables' that leach into the substance be negligible and undetectable by normal testing procedures used in laboratories.
  • suitable commercially-available polymeric materials for building a vessel include flexible poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) film and CRYOVAC ® M312 multi-layer film distributed by Cryovac Sealed Air Corporation.
  • fluent substances as used herein include the multitude of substances considered flowable, or capable of flowing such as reagents, cleaning solutions, water (with many uses, including use as an inorganic solvent), organics, pesticides, and other substances used in a production/test type environment.
  • reagents as defined, is any chemical compound used in laboratory analyses to detect and identify specific constituents of the material being examined.
  • reagents may be gases, liquids, or solids, they are usually prepared as solutions (in water or common solvents) of various concentrations, e.g., 1 molar, 0.1 normal, etc. Several thousand chemicals of varying specificity are used as reagents; they are subject to strict specifications, especially as regards purity.
  • a non-exhaustive list of reagents includes, without limitation: glacial acetic acid; sulfuric acid; hydrogen sulfide; dimethylglyoxime; potassium iodide; 0.05 M Potassium Phosphate, pH 7.5; Sodium Acetate Buffer Solution, pH 5.0; .5% SLS in 0.1 M Phosphate Buffer (pH 8.0); 0.05 M Potassium Phosphate, pH 6.8; .025 M Phosphate pH 3.2, has Phosphoric and Acetic Acid; .05 M Sodium Phosphate pH 6.8; 0.2% diethylamine in 0.2 M Potassium Phosphate.
  • 'solvent' is a term that designates a liquid which can reduce certain solids or liquids to molecular or ionic form by relaxing the intermolecular forces that unite them. There are tens-of-thousands of solvents currently in use.
  • the vessel Prior to transport over any distance, the vessel is packaged 214 (see, also, FIG. 3 at 22 ). Then, either at the physical location/point of dispensing, or at a separate location, the vessel may be oriented by a support framework having a suitable structure corresponding with the specific structural design of the vessel. In the event a vessel is formed in such a manner that it can be oriented on its own, it is not critical that a support framework be used. As noted, the framework can have a number of suitable structures to support the vessel by: hanging (including, clipping as shown in FIG. 7 ) from the upper-end of the vessel, sliding a vertical rod of a counter-top framework through a side channel of the vessel, wedging the vessel between front and aft support walls (see, FIG.
  • step 210 can further include: 210A, hermetically forming the ends (e.g., FIG. 7 at 55, 57 ) of sheet-stock to form a desired storage capacity (preferably from about 5 milliliters to 20 Liters in volumetric-capacity); 210B, adding indicia (whether coded) for use in product tracking and inventory control; and 210C, including a second flow channel (for example, see FIG. 7 at 52B ).
  • 210A hermetically forming the ends (e.g., FIG. 7 at 55, 57 ) of sheet-stock to form a desired storage capacity (preferably from about 5 milliliters to 20 Liters in volumetric-capacity)
  • 210B adding indicia (whether coded) for use in product tracking and inventory control
  • 210C including a second flow channel (for example, see FIG. 7 at 52B ).
  • a flexible vessel can be constructed of fluid and microbial impervious flexible sheet material that has minimal gas permeability to aid in maintaining the integrity of the chemistries packaged in the vessel (which, depending upon use, may be sparged or otherwise treated before being packaged in a flexible vessel).
  • the total weight of the flexible vessel is less than the weight of a hard-walled (e.g., glass or high-density polyethylene plastic) container large enough to hold an equivalent volume of liquid.
  • the flexible material can be of a multi-layer construction, and in the event the contents of the vessel, once filled, requires some type of treatment (e.g., sterilization, electron beam irradiation, gamma irradiation, and so on), preferably a flexible material is used that can withstand such treatment with minimal, or no, degradation.
  • a vessel of the invention is during the process of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
  • HPLC High Performance Liquid Chromatography
  • Such chemistries include high-purity water (H 2 O), numerous buffered reagents, and organic solvents.
  • FIGs. 12 and 13 represent the flow of a preferred method of building an order for replenishing stock of a fluent substance utilizing, in an expanded manner, indicia (such as that shown at 31, 51, 81) on a wall of a flexible-walled vessel.
  • indicia such as that shown at 31, 51, 81
  • Commercially available 'supply chain' software tools fall short of effective comprehensive use of the INTERNET ® global information network and wireless (cellular) technologies to handle ordering and fulfillment of orders for reagents and other solutions used in a production/test environment.
  • a vessel with indicia is preferably used (box 310) in connection with the method of building an order.
  • a portion of the indicia is encoded for reading/sensing with a reader-device interconnected to a computer, such as the handheld device illustrated in FIG. 9 at 100 to read/scan indicia 31 of vessel 30.
  • a reader-device interconnected to a computer, such as the handheld device illustrated in FIG. 9 at 100 to read/scan indicia 31 of vessel 30.
  • Preferable modes of affixation of indicia (31) to a vessel have been discussed in connection with FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 1 As shown in more detail in the schematic labeled FIG.
  • a remote processor must be (at 400) capable of accessing database information 402, represented here as separable 'local' databases of credit information and package records, which may incorporate special product-handling information from the manufacturer, and if not, a separate database of manufacturer records can be used. Also, if local database records 402 do not include warehouse stock and common carrier information, the remote processor 400 should preferably be able to access such information via WAN 420 (e.g., INTERNET ® global information network via modem, both through hardwired phone lines and cellular communication networks) to additional 'sub-databases' (e.g. , warehouse stock availability 432 and common carrier location, cost, and availability 442).
  • WAN 420 e.g., INTERNET ® global information network via modem, both through hardwired phone lines and cellular communication networks
  • additional 'sub-databases' e.g. , warehouse stock availability 432 and common carrier location, cost, and availability 442).
  • the indicia is read 314 (visually or automatically by suitable electronic device, e.g. , FIG. 9 at 100 and FIG. 13 at 414 ) and at least certain of the indicia information is transmitted to a remote processor (400 in FIG. 13 ). If the accessible database information (including 402, 432, 442) does not have a package record that corresponds with the transmitted indicia information 316, then the indicia information can be re-entered (318) and if no package record is matched the second time (319), the indicia information may just not be in the database, yet: Write it to an 'exception' file for future use.
  • the indicia information is used (box 322) to begin building a replenishment order and corresponding shipment request.
  • a simple alphanumeric-text type search may be performed of the accessible database information 402, 432, 442 to find a package record that contains a package serial number (PSN) match to the PSN of the indicia as transmitted (see box 314).
  • the indicia information is preferably used to update and review an inventory file record maintained by the remote processor for the dispensing site prior to generating the order for acceptance.
  • first-pass order may be communicated to someone at the dispensing site 410 for update and/or modification (such as by display monitor at the dispensing location 410, or FAX 412 or other hardcopy printing device 413, connected to remote processor 410). If a first-pass (or any updated or later-modified version, for that matter) of the order is rejected for any reason (327), this information must be communicated to the dispensing site 410, preferably via WAN 420.
  • Action necessary can be taken to move the order to the next step, 329: Send the replenishment order and shipping request to a credit module for automatic approval or rejection. If credit approval is given 330, the final version of the order and shipping request is sent to a transport planning system to choose carrier (based upon availability, location, cost, etc. at 440) and check on product availability (430) for fulfillment of the order. If credit approval for the order is not given (330), an individual may have to seek payment and/or payment guarantee elsewhere and communicate this (box 332) to the remote processor for order fulfillment (334).
  • An approved order and shipping request (box 330) can be assigned an order-tracking number, and if desired to keep track of multiple shipments, a shipment number can be assigned to each such shipment.
  • the transport planning system can access an off-site processor (440) and/or sub-databases to collect information to find an available common-carrier and plus make a decision about which carrier is most cost-effective, and so on.
  • a warehouse management system (WMS), whether run as a module on the remote processor 400 or performed off-site on a warehouse computer processor 430, can be employed to locate available stock of vessels of fluent substance in accordance with the approved order and shipping request (box 330).
  • the WMS can include the capability to manage the stock picking and packaging processes by way of communicating with warehouse employees via portable-wireless device.
  • the remote processor 400 can be notified (via the WAN 420, for example) that a particular shipment of a particular order has been picked from the warehouse and is on a carrier vehicle heading to the dispensing site.
  • the remote processor can automatically generate an invoice for that shipment and update an internal-local accounts receivable database, as well as electronically send the invoice or print a copy for postal mailing.
  • Once the shipment safely reaches its destination, information concerning the vessels of that shipment can be transmitted to the remote processor for updating the database 402 in a manner similar to that set for at steps 312 and 314 in FIG. 12 .
  • very powerful computer systems are commercially available for readily handling the computing tasks described above in connection with FIGs. 12 and 13 in a cost-effective manner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Transportvorrichtung (20) für fließfähige Substanzen für Produktionsprozesse, um eine fließfähige Substanz zur Abgabe während eines getrennt von einer Befüllungsstelle stattfindenden Produktionsprozesses zu transportieren, die aufweist:
    ein flexibelwandiges Gefäß, das mit der fließfähigen Substanz kompatibel ist; wobei das Gefäß, wenn es durch ein Stützgerüst zur Abgabe ausgerichtet ist, ein oberes Ende (27) und einen unteren Abschnitt (29) aufweist, der mindestens einen Anschluss (26) aufweist, durch den die fließfähige Substanz während des Produktionsprozesses abgegeben wird;
    wobei das obere Ende (27) und ein unteres Ende (25) des unteren Abschnitts (29) aus einem röhrenförmigen Ausgangsmaterial hermetisch ausgeformt worden sind;
    gekennzeichnet durch eine Einsteckanordnung (24) zum Einführen in den Anschluss, wobei die Anordnung einen ersten Durchflusskanal (24b) und ein Ventil (24a) aufweist, um unabhängig von dem Stützgerüst die Abgabe einer vorbestimmten Menge der fließfähigen Substanz, die in dem Gefäß enthalten ist, gemäß dem Bedarf während des Produktionsverfahrens zu kontrollieren.
  2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in der die fließfähige Substanz ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe umfassend flüssige Reagenzien, Reinigungslösungen, Lösungsmittel, und Pestizide; und die ferner an dem Gefäß ein auswärtszeigendes Anzeigeelement (31) zum Gebrauch in Verbindung mit dem Prozess aufweist.
  3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, in der das obere Ende (27) und das untere Ende (25) hermetisch aus röhrenförmigem Ausgangsmaterial geformt worden sind, das polymerisch und im Wesentlichen inert gegenüber der fließfähigen Substanz ist, wobei das Ausgangsmaterial ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe umfassend flexiblen Polyvinyl Chlorid (PVC) Film und flexiblen Mehrschichtfilm; und in der die Vorrichtung ferner an dem Gefäß ein flexibles Anzeigeelement mit einem Barcode aufweist, um den Gebrauch des Gefäßes während des Verfahrens zu verfolgen.
  4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in der
    ein zwischen den Enden ausgebildetes kissenförmiges Volumen des Gefäßes ein Fassungsvermögen aufweist, das größer ist als das zum Aufnehmen der vorbestimmten Menge erforderliche Fassungsvermögen; der erste Durchflusskanal (24b) das untere Ende (27) durchläuft, mit dem er hermetisch verbunden ist; und eine Unterstützungsöffnung (38) in dem oberen Ende (27) integriert ist; und
    der eine Anschluss (26) ferner zum Befüllen des Gefäßes an der Befüllungsstelle genutzt wird.
  5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner eine Unterstützungsöffnung (38) aufweist, die in dem oberen Ende (27) integriert ist, wobei das Stützgerüst (90) einen Ständer (94) mit einer Basis (95) und einen Fortsatz (91) aufweist, der durch die Unterstützungsöffnung passt, um das Gefäß zur Abgabe zu halten.
  6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner ein röhrenförmiges Ansatzstück aufweist, das in Verbindung mit dem ersten Durchflusskanal steht, wobei das Ventil betrieblich längs des röhrenförmigen Ansatzstücks angeordnet ist, und in der das Stützgerüst (40) relativ steife Vorder- und Rückwände (41, 42), einen spitzen Winkel, in dem das Gefäß zur Abgabe positioniert ist, und eine untere Öffnung (46), durch die der erste Durchflusskanal zur Abgabe passt, aufweist.
  7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in der
    ein zwischen den Enden (25, 27) ausgebildetes kissenförmiges Volumen des Gefäßes ein Fassungsvermögen aufweist, das größer ist als das zum Aufnehmen der vorbestimmten Menge erforderliche Fassungsvermögen; das untere Ende eine Wand (25) aufweist, die der erste Durchflusskanal (36) zusammen mit einem zweiten Durchflusskanal (32) durchläuft, wobei die Kanäle hermetisch integriert sind; und
    in der der zweite Durchflusskanal (32), in Verbindung mit einem zweiten Anschluss an dem unteren Ende, zum Befüllen des Gefäßes an der Befüllungsstelle genutzt wird; und in der der zweite Durchflusskanal (32) dauerhaft verschlossen ist, sobald das Gefäß befüllt worden ist.
  8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in der das obere Ende (27) und ein unteres Ende (25) des unteren Abschnitts (29) hermetisch aus Folienmaterial ausgeformt worden sind, so dass ein Volumen des Gefäßes zwischen den Enden ausgebildet ist und ein vertikaler Kanal hermetisch entlang einer Seite des Gefäßes integriert ist, um einen Stützschaft eines Gerüstes aufzunehmen, um das Gefäß zur Abgabe auszurichten.
  9. Verfahren zum Transport einer in Produktionsverfahren verwendeten fließfähigen Substanz, um diese während eines Produktionsprozesses abzugeben, das folgende Schritte aufweist:
    Bereitstellen eines flexibelwandigen Gefäßes mit einem oberen Ende (27) und einem unteren Abschnitt (29), der mindestens einen Anschluss (26) aufweist, wobei die elastischen Wände aus einem Material hergestellt sind, das mit der fließfähigen Substanz kompatibel ist;
    Befüllung des Gefäßes an einer von dem Produktionsprozess getrennten Befüllungsstelle mit der fließfähigen Substanz zum Zwecke des Transports;
    Einführen einer Einsteckanordnung (24) in den Anschluss (26), wobei die Anordnung (24) einen Durchflusskanal (24b) und ein Ventil (24a) aufweist;
    Ausrichtung des Gefäßes; und
    bedarfsgemäße Abgabe einer vorbestimmten Menge der fließfähigen Substanz, die in dem Gefäß enthalten ist, durch das Ventil (24a).
  10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, in dem der Befüllungsschritt eine fließfähige Substanz aus der Gruppe umfassend flüssige Reagenzien, Reinigungslösungen, Lösungsmittel und Pestizide verwendet; bei dem der Bereitstellungsschritt ferner das Vorsehen eines auswärtszeigenden Anzeigeelements an dem Gefäß zum Gebrauch in Verbindung mit dem Produktionsprozess und die hermetische Ausformung des oberen Endes (27) und eines unteren Endes (25) des unteren Abschnitts (29) aus polymerischem Folienmaterial aufweist, so dass ein zwischen den Enden ausgebildetes Volumen des Gefäßes ein Fassungsvermögen aufweist, das größer ist als das zum Aufnehmen der vorbestimmten Menge erforderliche Fassungsvermögen; und bei dem der Ausrichtungsschritt ferner das Einführen eines Fortsatzes des Stützgerüsts (90) in eine Unterstützungsöffnung (38) aufweist, die in dem oberen Ende integriert ist.
  11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, in dem der Bereitstellungsschritt ferner das hermetische Ausformen des oberen Endes (27) und eines unteren Endes (25) des unteren Abschnitts (29) aus flexiblem Folienmaterial aufweist; der Befüllungsschritt ferner das Befüllen des Gefäßes durch den zumindest einen Anschluss aufweist; und der Ausrichtungsschritt ferner die Positionierung des Gefäßes zwischen relativ steifen Vorder- und Rückwänden (41, 42) eines Stützgerüsts (40) aufweist, so dass der erste Durchflusskanal zur Abgabe durch eine untere Öffnung (46) des Gerüsts passt.
  12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, in dem
    der Bereitstellungsschritt ferner das Vorsehen eines auswärtszeigenden Anzeigeelement (31) an dem Gefäß und eines zweiten Durchflusskanals (32) aufweist, um den Befüllungsschritt mit einer flüssigen Substanz aus der Gruppe umfassend flüssige Reagenzien, Reinigungslösungen, Lösungsmittel und Pestizide durchzuführen; und
    der Abgabeschritt ferner das Öffnen des Ventils (34a) aufweist, das betrieblich längs des mit dem ersten Durchflusskanal in Verbindung stehenden röhrenförmigen Ansatzstücks angeordnet ist, wobei das Öffnen lang genug andauert, um die vorbestimmte Menge abzugeben, und dann das Schließen des Ventils aufweist, um zeitweise die weitere Abgabe der fließfähigen Substanz zu unterbinden.
  13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, in dem der Bereitstellungsschritt ferner die hermetische Ausformung des oberen Endes (27) und eines unteren Endes (25) des unteren Abschnitts (29) aus flexiblem Folienmaterial aufweist; der Befüllungsschritt eine fließfähige Substanz aus der Gruppe umfassend flüssige Reagenzien, Reinigungslösungen, Lösungsmittel und Pestizide verwendet; und der Abgabeschritt ferner das Messen der vorbestimmen Menge mit einem Durchflussmessgerät aufweist, das betrieblich vor dem Ventil angeordnet ist.
  14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, in dem der Bereitstellungsschritt ferner das Vorsehen eines zweiten Durchflusskanals (52b) aufweist, der in Verbindung mit einem zweiten Anschluss des oberen Endes (57) steht, um den Befüllungsschritt durchzuführen; und das ferner die Schritte des dauerhaften Verschließens des zweiten Durchflusskanals (52b) aufweist, sobald das Gefäß befüllt worden ist, und die Inventarkontrolle der fließfähigen Substanz mittels eines alphanumerischen Codes auf einem Anzeigeelement aufweist.
EP99935995A 1998-07-31 1999-07-30 Behältnis und verfahren zur aufbewarung / zum transport einer flüssigen substanz Expired - Lifetime EP1101080B1 (de)

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US9483198P 1998-07-31 1998-07-31
US9483098P 1998-07-31 1998-07-31
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US94830P 1998-07-31
US94896P 1998-07-31
PCT/US1999/017280 WO2000006976A1 (en) 1998-07-31 1999-07-30 Vessel for containing/transporting a fluent substance

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US11419791B2 (en) 2018-07-05 2022-08-23 Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. Flexible container systems and nozzles, and related methods

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WO2019126130A1 (en) * 2017-12-19 2019-06-27 Waters Technologies Corporation Purification elements for dispensing a purified liquid
US11125729B2 (en) 2017-12-19 2021-09-21 Waters Technologies Corporation Purification elements for dispensing a purified liquid
US11419791B2 (en) 2018-07-05 2022-08-23 Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. Flexible container systems and nozzles, and related methods

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EP1101080A1 (de) 2001-05-23
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EP1101080A4 (de) 2003-08-13
CA2336692C (en) 2008-06-03
WO2000006976A1 (en) 2000-02-10

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