Pressurized system for dispensing fluids
View Patent ↗A bag-in-bag-in-bottle assembly formed by a flexible dispensing container with a dispensing fitment. The dispensing container is positioned adjacent or sandwiched between one or more flexible pressurization containers having a separate inlet/outlet path through a second fitment. The bag-in-bag assembly can then be placed in a containment vessel with the fitments mounted such that it is accessible on the vessel. A liquid can be extracted from the dispensing container by introducing a fluid into the pressurization container(s) with enough pressure to force the liquid out through the dispensing fitment. A contoured dispensing head may be coupled to the bag-in-bag-in-bottle assembly using a cam actuation arrangement for simultaneously locking the pressurization, vent and fluid extraction couplings.
1. A dispensing system for dispensing a liquid, comprising:
an inner flexible container for containing said liquid, said inner flexible container including an outer surface and a perimeter; and
an outer flexible container substantially surrounding said inner flexible container, said outer flexible container including an inner portion and an outer portion that are joined along a seal line to at least partially define a pressurization container therebetween, said inner portion being flexible and having an inner surface, said inner surface being in contact with said outer surface of said inner flexible container,
wherein said perimeter of said inner flexible container is affixed to said outer flexible container near said seal line of said outer flexible container.
2. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said inner flexible container comprises perfluoroalkoxy.
3. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said outer flexible container comprises polyethylene.
4. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein:
said inner flexible container includes a first sheet material comprising polytetrafluoroethylene, said sheet material having a thickness less than 0.25 millimeters; and
said outer surface of said inner flexible container is sealed by an outer flexible member, said outer flexible member including a second sheet material that is less permeable to gases than said polytetrafluoroethylene and having a thickness less than 0.25 millimeters.
5. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein:
said inner flexible container includes an attaching tab;
said outer flexible container includes a seam allowance; and
said attaching tab of said inner flexible container is affixed to said seam allowance of said outer flexible container.
6. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein:
said attaching tab of said inner flexible container defines a through passage that passes therethrough;
a first portion of said seam allowance is disposed on a first side of said through passage and a second portion of said seam allowance is disposed on a second side of said through passage; and
said first portion of said seam allowance is attached to said second portion of said seam allowance through said through passage.
7. The dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein said through passage is a through hole.
8. The dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising:
an inner fitment operably coupled with said inner flexible container and adapted to route said liquid to or from said inner flexible container; and
an outer fitment operably coupled with said outer flexible container and adapted to route fluid to or from said outer flexible container.
9. The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein said fluid is a gas.
10. The dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein:
said inner fitment and said outer fitment cooperate as a fitment assembly, said fitment assembly for venting gas from a containment vessel between said inner flexible container and said flexible outer container.
11. The dispensing system of claim 10 , wherein said inner flexible container and said outer flexible member are disposed within and confined by a containment vessel.
12. A method of making a dispensing system for dispensing a liquid, comprising:
forming an inner flexible container for containing said liquid, said inner flexible container including an outer surface and a perimeter, said inner flexible container including an attaching tab;
forming a through passage that passes through said attaching tab;
forming an outer flexible container including an inner portion and an outer portion that are joined along a seal line to at least partially define a pressurization container therebetween, said inner portion being flexible and having an inner surface, said outer flexible container having a seam allowance;
arranging said outer flexible container to substantially surround said inner flexible container so that said inner surface is in contact with said outer surface of said inner flexible container, and so that a first portion of said seam allowance is disposed on a first side of said through passage and a second portion of said seam allowance is disposed on a second side of said through passage; and
attaching said first portion of said seam allowance to said second portion of said seam allowance through said through passage, so that said perimeter of said inner flexible container is affixed to said outer flexible container near said seal line of said outer flexible container.
13. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein said step of attaching said first portion of said seam allowance to said second portion of said seam allowance includes welding said first portion of said seam allowance to said second portion of said seam allowance.
14. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein said through passage formed in said attaching tab is a through hole.
15. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein the step of attaching said first portion of said seam allowance to said second portion of said seam allowance through said through passage is performed by welding said first portion of said seam allowance to said second portion of said seam allowance.
16. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 12 , further comprising:
selecting a first material for forming said inner flexible container and attaching tab; and
selecting a second material for forming said outer flexible container and said seam allowance, said second material having a composition that differs from said first material.
17. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 16 wherein said first material includes perfluoroalkoxy and said second material includes polyethylene.
18. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 12 , further comprising:
coupling an inner fitment with said inner flexible container, said inner fitment being adapted to route said liquid to or from said inner flexible container; and
coupling an outer fitment with said outer flexible container, said outer fitment being adapted to route fluid to or from said outer flexible container.
19. The method of making the dispensing system of claim 18 , further comprising:
disposing said inner flexible container and said outer flexible container within a containment vessel, wherein said inner fitment and said outer fitment cooperate as a fitment assembly for venting gas from said containment vessel between said inner flexible container and said flexible outer container.