WO1992017397A1

WO1992017397A1 - Apparatus for storing fluids

Info

Publication number: WO1992017397A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/000767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Earle; David Albert Skye; Nicholas John Taylor
Original assignee: Kodak Limited; Eastman Kodak Company
Priority date: 1991-04-08
Filing date: 1992-04-02
Publication date: 1992-10-15
Also published as: GB9107310D0

Abstract

Apparatus for storing fluid comprises a receptacle (10) with an upper neck (12) and a lower neck (14). A closure element (16) is associated with each neck. Each closure element has a movable spout (18) which can be moved between positions in which it either opens or closes its associated neck opening. The spouts can be operated in combination to admit, retain, or dispense fluid from the receptacle. The lower neck opening usually acts as an outlet and the upper neck opening as an inlet.

Description

Apparatus for Storing Fluids

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an apparatus for storing fluids. The invention has particular application in the field of photographic developing.

BACKGROUND ART

Apparatus for storing fluids are well known. A conventional apparatus for storing fluids comprises a bottle-like receptacle having an upper opening and a lower opening. A stopper is provided to close the upper opening and the lower opening comprising a tap which is integral with receptacle and controls the flow of fluid from the receptacle. To fill the receptacle the tap is closed and the stopper is removed from the upper opening to enable fluid to enter the receptacle via the upper opening. Once the desired quantity of fluid has been delivered into the receptacle the stopper is replaced over the upper opening, and fluid can be dispensed from the receptacle through the tap as required. This type of apparatus suffers from many drawbacks. The receptacle and integrally formed tap are usually made in glass and are relatively complex and expensive to manufacture.

Furthermore it is likely that some spillage will occur during the operation of filling the receptacle.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for storing fluids which is of simple design and thereby relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and reduces spillage of fluid during the filling operation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for storing a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle having a plurality of necks each of which define an opening into or out of said receptacle, and a closure element associated with each neck of said receptacle wherein each said closure element includes movable closure members, each said member being movable between positions in which it can open or close its associated opening, the arrangement being such that said closure elements can be operable in combination to admit, retain or dispense fluid from said receptacle. Each closure member may be a movable spout means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a photographic developing apparatus including an apparatus for storing a fluid as claimed in said one aspect.

Preferably the spout of each closure element extends beyond the periphery of the body of the closure element in both the open and closed positions. Such a closure element enables a flexible conduit to be secured to the spout at all times. This has the advantage that the receptacle can be mounted in a fixed position and fluid flowing from the receptacle through the spout of the closure element can be directed to where it is required by means of the flexible conduit. Furthermore the flexible conduit secured to the spout of the closure element fastened to the inlet opening can be connected directly to a reservoir of fluid, and so the receptacle can be filled from the reservoir with a substantially reduced likelihood of spillage.

Some fluids which are used in conventional photographic developing processes are easily oxidisable and their contact with air must be kept to a minimum. With the present invention such fluids held in the receptacle only come into contact with air when they have been delivered from the receptacle to a developing tray, the fluid being substantially out of contact with air whilst in storage and transit to the developing tray.

An alternative form of closure element comprises a tubular body member which can be secured to the neck of a said container, a flap member pivotably mounted in said body member and movable between a first position in which it can prevent fluid flow through said body, and a second position in which it permits fluid flow therethrough, and a receptacle into which said body member can locate, said receptacle being so shaped and configured that relative rotation between said body member and said receptacle cause the flap member to move between its first and second positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described now by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for storing fluids in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an alternative form of closure element for the apparatus, and

Figures 3 and 4 are views illustrating the operation of the alternative form of closure element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a rigid receptacle 10 has an upper neck 12 defining an aperture and a lower neck 14 defining an aperture. A closure element 16 is fastened to each neck of the receptacle. Each closure element 16 comprises a body 17 which carries a spout 18 movable between a closed position and an open position. The spout of each closure element has a through bore which is in communication with the inside of the receptacle when the spout is in its open position thereby permitting fluid flow through the spout, and is isolated therefrom in its closed position thereby preventing fluid flow through the spout. Each closure element is shown with its spout in the closed position, the lower closure element also being shown in dotted lines with its spout in the open position. The spout 18 of each closure element 16 extends beyond the periphery of the body 17 of the closure element 16 in both the open and closed positions. One end of a flexible conduit 20 is secured to the spout 18 of the lower closure element. A fluid 30 contained in the receptacle is dispensed therefrom by moving the spout of the lower closure element from its closed position to its open position. Fluid drains from the receptacle through the spout and can be directed to where it is required by means of the flexible conduit. The spout of the upper closure element can be opened whilst fluid is being dispensed from the receptacle, thereby acting as a vent and enhancing the rate of fluid flow.

To fill the receptacle with fluid the spout of the lower closure element is closed. One end of a flexible conduit (not shown) is secured to the spout of the upper closure element. The conduit may be permanently secured to the spout, or it may be secured only when the receptacle is to be filled. The other end of the flexible conduit is secured to a reservoir of fluid (not shown) and fluid is transferred from the reservoir to the receptacle without spillage and without coming into contact with air. Once the desired quantity of fluid has been received in the receptacle the spout of the upper closure element is closed thereby preventing fluid from entering the receptacle. The fluid contained in the receptacle can be dispensed therefrom as described above.

It will be appreciated that since the receptacle in the embodiment described above is rigid, it is inevitable that there will always be some air in contact with the surface of the fluid contained in the receptacle, unless the receptacle is filled fully and this is seldom convenient to do. However, the contact of air with the fluid from its initial storing site (i.e. the reservoir) to where it is to be ultimately dispensed (i.e. a developing tray of a photographic developing apparatus) is kept to a minimum. A flexible collapsible receptacle can replace the rigid receptacle to further reduce the amount of air in contact with the fluid.

A receptacle with more than two necks defining apertures may be desirable. For example two resevoirs containing different fluids can be linked to a receptacle having two inlet apertures and one outlet aperture, together with the associated closure elements and flexible conduits. The receptacle can receive both fluids from each reservoir which would be mixed together in the receptacle, the resulting mixture being dispensed from the outlet. Alternately two outlets may be provided with the associated closure elements and flexible conduits if it is desired to dispense a fluid from the receptacle to more than one location at any particular time.

This present apparatus has particular application in the field of photographic developing. The apparatus can be incorporated into a machine for developing photographs and the like, and is most suitable for storing fluids which are oxidisable on contact with air. The fluid within the receptacle is easily isolated by closing all closure elements, thereby enabling the machine to be moved without spilling fluid. Alternately the apparatus can be located remote to such a machine. The fluid being delivered to the machine via the flexible conduit. Since the closure element according to the present apparatus have only two working positions it will be appreciated that they can be arranged to be electrically operated and may also be incorporated into a fully automated processing machine if so desired. An alternative form of closure element which can be employed instead of the closure element (16) is shown in Figures 2 to 4. The closure element can be housed on one or both of its necks of the receptacle (10). The closure element shown generally at (50) comprises a tubular body (51) which locates around the neck (52) of a container (53). The internal wall of the body (51) is stepped at (55) and the step abuts against the rim of the neck (52). An outer peripheral part of the body (51) has a inwardly directed lip (56).

The body carries a circular flap (58) which is pivotally mounted to the body at (59). In section the flap has a portion (60) of uniform thickness and a part circumferential portion (61) which is generally wedge-shaped, the apex of the wedge contacting the inner wall of the body (51) . In the closed position of the flap the portion (60) seats against the lip (56).

The body (51) can be received in a receptacle element (70). The receptacle (70) comprises a tubular part (71) having an integrally formed end face (72) which protrudes radially beyond the tubular part (71). The interior of the end face is formed with an axially extending protrusion (74). The protrusion (74) is located intermediate the axis of the tubular part (71) and the inner surface of the tubular part and is spaced from that inner surface by a distance sufficient to accommodate the lip (56) (see Figure 3) . The interior surface of the tubular part (71) has a circumferential groove which receives an O-ring (75). A conduit (76) extends through the end face (72).

In use the tubular body (51) secured to the neck of a container is located in the tubular part (71) as shown in Figure 2. The O-ring (75) forms a seal between the two elements. In the orientation shown in Figure 3 the protrusion (74) has contacted the portion (60) of the flap and caused the flap to pivot to a position in which the wedge-shaped portion is not in contact with the body (51). Hence the flap is open and fluid can flow either to or from the container via the conduit (76) which is coupled to photographic processing apparatus. To close the flap (58), e.g. when used chemicals have been returned to the container, the container is rotated through 180° to the position shown in Figure 4. This causes the flap to close and then the body (51) and container can be removed from the receptacle (70).

The body (51) and the flap (58) are formed from a material which allows one to sealingly engage the other. This material can be a polymer such as polypropylene.

The closure assembly of the second embodiment can be used in a manner similar to that described for the Figure 1 arrangement.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for storing a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle having a plurality of necks each of which define an opening into or out of said receptacle, and

a closure element associated with each neck of said receptacle, wherein each said closure element includes movable closure members, each said member being movable between positions in which it can open or close its associated opening, the arrangement being such that said closure elements can be operable in combination to admit, retain or dispense fluid from said receptacle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each closure element comprises a movable spout means.

3. An apparatus for storing a fluid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said receptacle has two apertures.

4. An apparatus for storing a fluid as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the spout of each of said closure elements extends beyond the periphery of the body of the closure element in both said open and closed position.

5. An apparatus for storing a fluid as claimed in claim 4, wherein a flexible conduit is secured to the spout of at least one of said closure elements.

6. Apparatus for storing a fluid according to claim 1, wherein each closure element comprises a tubular body member which can be secured to the neck of a said container, a flap member pivotably mounted in said body member and movable between a first position in which it can prevent fluid flow through said body, and a second position in which it permits fluid flow therethrough, and a receptacle into which said body member can locate, said receptacle being so shaped and configured that relative rotation between said body member and said receptacle cause the flap member to move between its first and second positions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle comprises a tubular body portion arranged to sealingly receive the tubular body member and an end wall at one end of the tubular portion, said end wall having a formation which is use contacts said flap to effect said opening and closing upon said relative rotation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a conduit extends through said end wall, said conduit permitting fluid to flow to or from said container when said flap is in its open position.

9. A photographic developing apparatus including an apparatus for storing a fluid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.