Method for loading a 3D flexible pouch to be filled, system for loading and storing this flexible pouch and associated support device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10532837-B2
Application number	US-201515116605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 6, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A support device ( 20 ), mounted on an upper edge of a container ( 3 ), includes lifting elements that define a support surface ( 22 ) which extends transversely outwards from an inner edge ( 55 ). The upper end ( 2 b ) of a flexible pouch for biopharmaceutical product can rest on this support surface, the rest of the 3D-type pouch extending into the container. The slot ( 23 ) which separates the support surface into two portions defines a guide path for a flexible supply line ( 9 a, 9 b ) for the pouch ( 2 ) that is connected at its bottom to the end ( 2 b ). A convex surface is formed at the rear end of the slot and above the edge of the container, so as to guide and facilitate the passage of the line ( 9 a ) into the housing, when the filling state is sufficiently advanced. The causes of poor deployment of the pouch are thus minimized, without human intervention.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for loading a 3D flexible pouch in a storage housing of a rigid container, wherein:
the rigid container has a predetermined depth, wherein the flexible pouch is adapted for filling with a biopharmaceutical product via at least one flexible supply line, the container comprising an upper edge defining an upper transverse opening for access to the storage housing,

the method comprising, prior to filling, the steps of:
extending the flexible pouch, in an initial non-filled state, along a given inner face of the storage housing, so as to define a lower end and an upper end which are arranged on either side of said upper transverse opening, wherein the upper end of the flexible pouch comprises at least one upper port to which said flexible supply line is connected, said upper port being arranged on a given face of the flexible pouch in the initial non-filled state;
maintaining the upper end outside of the storage housing;

the method further comprising the following steps:
providing a support surface on the rigid container, via at least one support device mounted along a determined side of the upper edge,
orientating and positioning the flexible pouch so that a first portion of the given face of the flexible pouch is face to face with the given inner face and so that a second portion of said given face of the flexible pouch is in contact with the support surface, such that said flexible supply line connects to the flexible pouch from underneath the support surface, and
before or during filling, inserting said flexible supply line through a slot that separates said support surface into two surface portions, while keeping the second portion of the given face, which is part of the upper end of the flexible pouch, placed against the support surface,
during filling, guiding said supply line by a convex guide surface provided in the support device and extending between the two surface portions, the guide surface covering a portion of the upper edge of the rigid container and delimiting one end of the slot, whereby the supply line can be lifted above the upper edge during filling, when the upper end of the flexible pouch is moved into the storage housing,
wherein the upper end of the flexible pouch extends parallel to the support surface which is substantially planar, prior to filling,
and wherein the lower end of the flexible pouch is initially maintained at a distance from a distal wall of the container opposite to the given inner face of the container, the unfolding of the flexible pouch along the bottom wall of the storage housing allowing, as the flexible pouch is filled, a pulling of the upper end of the flexible pouch inwardly into the storage housing, so that said flexible supply line engages with and moves against the guide surface.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the support surface is placed on the rigid container so as to extend transversely and laterally outwards relative to the given inner face of the storage housing, whereby the upper end of the flexible pouch is in a laterally offset position relative to the storage housing when the upper end is resting on the support surface.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising, before filling, the step of:
connecting another flexible line to a lower port located in the lower end of the flexible pouch, and inserting this other flexible line into a through-hole to pass through a bottom wall of the storage housing.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
filling the flexible pouch using at least one flexible supply line and a corresponding number of upper ports provided in the upper end of the flexible pouch, on the given face; and
during filling, guiding the at least one flexible supply line by the convex guide surface.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a first shelf is provided for forming all or part of one of the two surface portions of the support surface, wherein a second shelf is provided for defining all or part of the other of the two surface portions of the support surface,
and wherein the first shelf and the second shelf are coplanar and each have a lateral edge forming a side of the slot, two flexible supply lines being inserted through the slot which extends between the first shelf and the second shelf.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible pouch has a capacity of between 100 and 1000 L, the storage housing of the rigid container containing the entire contents of the flexible pouch in a filled state.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the support device is removably attached on the determined side of the upper edge, by clasping.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the flexible pouch is placed at a height level greater than or equal to a height level of the determined side of the upper edge, when it is resting on the support surface.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an angle formed between said first portion and said second portion is between 60° and 130° prior to filling.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of said given face is part of the upper end of the flexible pouch, the upper end of the flexible pouch being moved to inside the storage housing in a passive manner due to increase in mass and volume of assembly formed by the flexible pouch and the biopharmaceutical product contained in the flexible pouch.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the support surface is moved from a folded position to a deployed position that enables the support surface to support the upper end of the flexible pouch at a height level that is higher than the upper edge.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the deployed position is locked by the contact of at least one pin that is integral in rotation with the support surface, against a stop of the support device which is integral to a fastening element attached to the rigid container.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the two surface portions, which are separate from the rigid container and included in the support device, are formed entirely above the rigid container,
and wherein a part of the support device forming the convex guide surface separates the slot from the upper transverse opening.

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Fmt Sas

Inventors

• Baud Stephane
• Bernard Frederic

Classifications

• B65B3/045 Primary

  for filling flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type · CPC title

• A61J1/10

  Bag-type containers · CPC title

• B65B61/20

  for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents (adding unpacking elements B65B61/18) · CPC title

• B65B67/1233

  Clamping or holding means · CPC title

• B65D77/061

  the containers being mounted on a pallet · CPC title