Apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399846-B2
Application number	US-201715728555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 14, 2008
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A mixing and dispensing apparatus, including a first container (for containing a first substance), a second container (for containing a second substance), and a tube system (that combines the first and second substances into one combined substance and mixes and dispenses the combined substance). Notably, a fluid-impermeable enclosure encloses the first container, the second container, and the tube system. Therefore, instead of performing the time-consuming process of formulating alcohol (used to decontaminate surfaces in clean room environments) to desired levels and filter-sterilizing it in the clean room environment, the claimed apparatus can be pre-filled off-site, sterilized, shipped to the destination, remain sterilized during shipment, and be used to combine (and mix and dispense) the substances on site.

First claim

We claim:

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:
a first container for containing a first substance;
a second container for containing a second substance;
a tube system configured to combine the first and second substances into one combined substance, mix the combined substance, and dispense the combined substance; and
a fluid-impermeable enclosure enclosing the first container, the second container, and the tube system,
wherein the mixing and dispensing apparatus is a closed system whereby the tube system combines only contents of the first container and the second container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first container, the second container, and the tube system are enclosed in the fluid-impermeable enclosure without a pump.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube system is configured to receive a peristaltic pump to combine the first and second substances.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container includes an exhaust pipe that allows air to be drawn into the second container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container comprises a top comprising:
an input neck sealed by a sealing device;
an output neck sealed by a sealing device;
an input pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the input neck; and
an output pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the output neck.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a feeding tube, connected to the tube system, configured to receive the combined substance, wherein:
the tube system comprises:
a main tube;
a first valve connected between the first container and one end of the main tube;
a second valve connected between the main tube and the feeding tube; and
a third valve connected between the main tube and the input neck, and

the main tube comprises:
a first tube section connecting the first valve and a first Y-connector;
a second tube section connecting the output neck and the first Y-connector;
a third tube section connecting the first Y-connector to a second Y-connector;
a fourth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the third valve;
a fifth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the second valve; and
a sixth tube section connecting the third valve to the input neck.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the third tube section is configured to receive a pump configured to pump the first and second substances; and
the third tube section is configured to provide a fluid impermeable path from the first Y-connector to the second Y-connector regardless of whether the pump is connected.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
during a combining of the first substance and the second substance, the first and third valves are configured to be opened and the second valve is configured to be closed;
during a mixing of the combined substance, the first and second valves are configured to be closed and the third valve is configured to be opened; and
during a dispensing of the combined substance, the first and third valves are configured to be closed and the second valve is configured to be opened.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are flexible.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are hard pipes.

11. A method, comprising:
filling a first container with a first substance;
filling a second container with a second substance;
providing a tube system configured to combine the first and second substances into a combined substance, mix the combined substance, and dispense the combined substance, wherein the tube system combines only contents of the first container and the second container; and
enclosing the first container, the second container, and the tube system in a fluid-impermeable enclosure.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first container, the second container, and the tube system are enclosed in the fluid-impermeable enclosure without a pump.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing a peristaltic pump;
combining the first and second substances into a combined substance;
mixing the combined substance; and
dispensing the combined substance.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second container includes an exhaust pipe that allows air to be drawn into the second container.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second container comprises:
an input neck sealed by a sealing device;
an output neck sealed by a sealing device;
an input pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the input neck; and
an output pipe disposed inside the second container and attached to the sealing device at the output neck.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing a feeding tube, connected to the tube system, configured to receive the combined substance, wherein:
the tube system comprises:
a main tube;
a first valve connected between the first container and one end of the main tube;
a second valve connected between the main tube and the feeding tube; and
a third valve connected between the main tube and the input neck; and

the main tube comprises:
a first tube section connecting the first valve and a first Y-connector;
a second tube section connecting the output neck and the first Y-connector;
a third tube section connecting the first Y-connector to a second Y-connector;
a fourth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the third valve;
a fifth tube section connecting the second Y-connector to the second valve; and
a sixth tube section connecting the third valve to the input neck.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
removably connecting a pump to the third tube section;
combining the first and second substances into a combined substance;
mixing the combined substance; and
dispensing the combined substance,
wherein the third tube section is configured to provide a fluid impermeable path from the first Y-connector to the second Y-connector regardless of whether the pump is connected.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
combining the first substance and the second substance into a combined substance by opening the first and third valves and closing the second valve;
mixing the combined substance by closing the first and second valves and opening the third valve; and
dispensing the combined substance by closing the first and third valves and opening the second valve.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are flexible.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the main tube and the feeding tube are hard pipes.

Assignees

• Veltek Ass Inc
• Vellutato Jr Arthur L

Inventors

• Vellutato Jr Arthur L
• Vellutato Sr Arthur L

Classifications

• B67D7/62

  power operated · CPC title

• B67D7/423

  specially adapted for blending several fluids (mixing devices B67D7/74) · CPC title

• B67D7/58

  Arrangements of pumps · CPC title

• B65D83/38

  Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70) · CPC title

• B67D7/78

  Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines · CPC title