Method for dispensing liquid ingredients from a tubular bag in a metered manner, and means for carrying out the method
The invention relates to a method for dispensing viscous or pasty ingredients ( 12 ), which are packaged in an aseptic manner, from a tubular bag ( 1 ), which is closed prior to the first use, by means of a disposable pump ( 4 ) attached to the bag. The disposable pump ( 4 ) has an inlet ( 5 ) with a cutting element ( 6 ), and a nozzle ( 2 ) with a flange ( 3 ) is welded onto the tubular bag ( 1 ). The disposable pump ( 4 ) is rotated relative to the nozzle ( 2 ), and the tubular bag ( 1 ) is thereby cut open. A valve ( 9 ) is arranged in the region of the outlet opening of an outlet tube ( 8 ) of the pump, and the disposable pump ( 4 ) is operated after the initial opening process until a freely selectable volume has exited the closing valve. The disposable pump ( 4 ) is then operated in the opposite rotational direction in order to suction ingredients ( 12 ) present on or in the region of the valve ( 9 ) back into the outlet tube ( 8 ). In the process, the valve ( 9 ) reaches or remains in the closed valve state. A valve ( 9 ) is proposed for carrying out the method. The valve is arranged in the outlet tube ( 8 ) and comprises a membrane ( 93, 191 ) which is sealingly mounted in a sliding manner or can be inverted. Using the method, the ingredients ( 12 ) can be dispensed in a metered manner from a tubular bag ( 1 ), in which the ingredients are aseptically packaged, into virtually aseptic containers until the ingredients are practically completely used.
1. A method for dispensing viscous or pasty ingredients from a tubular bag by means of a rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) attached to the bag, wherein the ingredients are packaged in an aseptic manner, wherein the bag is closed prior to a first use, wherein the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) includes an inlet ( 5 ) having a cutting element ( 6 ) connected to the rotary disposable pump in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the inlet ( 5 ) has an external thread ( 7 ) which is connected in a nozzle ( 2 ) having a flange ( 3 ) that is attached to the tubular bag ( 1 ), and wherein an outlet of the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) is an outlet tube ( 8 ) having a valve ( 9 ) which closes in a sealing manner, wherein the valve ( 90 ) includes a membrane ( 93 ) with a sliding ring ( 91 ), the method comprising:
rotating the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) including the cutting element ( 6 ) in a first step prior to an initial metering operation until the cutting element ( 6 ) has cut open the tubular bag ( 1 ),
operating the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) in a rotational direction until the ingredients ( 12 ) of a freely selectable volume have exited the valve ( 9 ) and the membrane ( 91 ) and sliding ring ( 91 ) have moved in a sealing and sliding manner to a first position, and
subsequently operating the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) in a direction opposite the rotational direction until at least the ingredients ( 12 ) present in a region of the valve ( 9 ) are suctioned back into the outlet tube ( 8 ) and the membrane ( 91 ) and sliding ring ( 93 ) have moved in a sealing and sliding manner to a second, different position, wherein the valve ( 9 ) reaches or remains in a closed valve state during the operating of the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) in the direction opposite the rotational direction.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the valve ( 9 ) in the closed state is suctioned back within the outlet tube ( 8 ) into the rotary disposable pump ( 4 ) by displacing or deforming the valve ( 9 ), thereby displacing ingredients ( 12 ) back into an outlet tube volume (V AR ) as a back suction volume (V RS ).
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the back suction volume (V RS ) is kept smaller than the outlet tube volume (V AR ).
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the back suction volume (V RS ) is smaller than 10% of the outlet tube volume (V AR ).
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising guiding the sliding ring ( 91 ) in the outlet tube ( 8 ) by means of at least one O-ring.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the second position the stop ring ( 91 ) contacts an upper stop bead ( 95 ) in the outlet tube ( 8 ) and wherein in the first position the stop ring ( 91 ) contacts a lower stop bead ( 96 ) in the outlet tube ( 8 ).
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet tube ( 8 ) is provided with an integrally formed collar, which is open at a bottom of the collar, on an outlet side.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding ring is a rubber elastic ring which is integrally formed with the membrane ( 93 , 191 ).