WO2004033214A1

WO2004033214A1 - Filling system

Info

Publication number: WO2004033214A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/004424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham Tremlett Ridout; Miles Julian Ling
Original assignee: Orbit Inks Limited
Priority date: 2002-10-10
Filing date: 2003-10-10
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Also published as: AU2003278308A1; GB0223557D0

Abstract

An apparatus for transferring material comprises a first container (2) having a neck (4), wherein the neck (4) has an opening at a distal end from the first container (2), the neck comprising a normally closed valve (10). The apparatus further comprises a second container (20) having an engaging member (30) comprising an inlet passage (36). The inlet passage having at least one sealing member mounted therein, for operably coupling to the neck (4) of the first container (2). The engaging member engages and opens the normally closed valve (10) to transfer material from the first container (2) to the second container (20) through the inlet passage (36).In this manner, material can be transferred from one container to another container substantially without spillage.

Description

FILLING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for filling one container from another container.

Background of the Invention

In the field of inkjet printing it is sometimes desirable to transfer ink from a first container to a second container without spillage. Often, this transfer of ink is performed by tipping from one container to another. In particular, it is standard practice to fill one ink container from another ink container by inverting the first ink container and placing it over the second ink container and simply pouring the contents of the first container into the neck of the second ink container. Any arrangement such as this, which is not sealed, frequently leads to spillage, which may result in problems for the user if the contents are messy or hazardous.

The spillage of ink can be extremely inconvenient and merely tipping ink from one container to another with great care will not necessarily completely avoid spillage. Ink is often designed to easily migrate and is always designed to stain; therefore, the slightest spillage is likely to cause extensive inconvenience.

Thus, there exists a need in the field of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for transferring material, such as ink, from a first container to a second container with minimal spillage, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages with known material transfer mechanisms may at least be alleviated.

Statement of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for filling one substantially sealed container from another.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a first container having a neck including an opening at its distal end, the neck containing a normally closed valve, the valve including a valve seat, a closure member closing onto the valve seat and means for urging the closure member onto the valve seat.

Preferably the neck of the container will include seals on its external surface. Typically the seals will be O- rings .

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a second container for use with the first container of the invention, the second container including an inlet passage, the inlet passage having sealing member mounted therein, the sealing member having a spike mounted in the inlet, sealing the inlet, with a bore extending from substantially the top of an engaging member (i.e. a spike), through the centre of the spike, into the inlet.

Preferably there is a small aperture in the sealing member, or at a base of the spike, to allow any material sitting on the seal to drain into the container. Typically the closure member will be a ball, and in particular a stainless steel ball.

Usually the means for urging the closure member against the valve seat will be a spring.

Preferably the sealing member is affixed to the neck of the container with a pin.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of the first container and the second container wherein the spike is sized to displace the closure member from the valve seat to allow the contents of the first container to travel through the aperture in the spike into the second container, and wherein the neck of the first container is sized to fit and/or seal into the inlet passage of the second container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second container according to the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional partial view of the coupling of the first container and the second container.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figure 1, the container 1 thereshown comprises a bottle 2 having a neck 4. The neck 4 is provided with sealing members 6 on its outside 8. The sealing members 6 are O-rings.

The inside 9 of the neck 4 is provided with a normally closed valve 10. The valve 10 comprises a spring 12 acting to urge a ball 18 onto an o-ring 16, held on a valve seat 19.

Figure 2 shows a second, complementary container 20, including a reservoir 22 and a feed tube 24 connected thereto. The feed tube has a constriction 26 against which is abutted a disc 28 from which a spike 30 protrudes. The disc 28 sealing fits into the feed tube 24 and is secured in place by a pin 32. The spike 30 is provided with a small aperture 34 to allow any material on the disc 28 to pass into the reservoir 22.

The spike 30 is essentially hollow, with a passageway 36 running from apertures 38 at the top 40 of the spike 30, though the centre of the spike 30, with an outlet 42 at the other end 43 of the spike. This allows material to pass though the centre of the spike 30 into the reservoir 22.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the neck 4 of the first container 1 is sized to fit into the feed tube 24 of the second container 20. The seals 6 provide an air tight seal between the two containers. In addition, the spike 30 in the second container 20 is sized to move the ball 18 in the valve 10 of the first container 1, off the valve seat 19, opening the valve. This allows materials in the first container 1 to flow through the valve 10, into the passageway 36 in the spike 30 and into the reservoir 22 in the second container.

In this manner, transfer of ink from one container to another container can take place by inverting the first container, which is sealed, and placing it within the neck of the second container to temporarily break the seal. Thus, by employing the inventive concepts herein described, the transfer of material, such as ink, between containers can take place without any leaking of contents .

It is within the contemplation of the present invention described herein that the system is able to transfer any material, for example ink or a similar viscous material, from a first container to a second container. For example, in the context of ink transfer, ink may be transferred from an inexpensive plastic bottle, to a more permanent container such as an inkjet cartridge.

Alternatively, the inventive concepts herein described can be used for transferring any viscous material in liquid or powder form between two containers.

In summary, the inventive concepts relate to two portions of a valve system. The first portion of the valve system is designed so that one container can be inverted without leaking. The second portion of the valve system is designed to fit within a recipient container as and when the two portions of the valve system are coupled together.

A further benefit of the inventive concepts is that the level of material in the recipient container is controlled by, and the result of, the design of the two parts of the valve system. The mechanism automatically controls the maximum level of material in the recipient container, therefore, avoiding overfilling.

It will be understood that the apparatus for transferring material, as described above, provide at least one or more of the following advantages: (i) Material can be transferred from one container to another container substantially without spillage; and

(ii) A level of material in the recipient container is controlled by, and is resultant from, the design of the two parts of the valve system.

Whilst specific, and preferred, implementations of the present invention are described above, it is clear that one skilled in the art could readily apply further variations and modifications of such inventive concepts.

Thus, the aforementioned apparatus provides an improved mechanism for transferring material, such as ink, from a first container to a second container with minimal spillage, thereby substantially alleviating one or more of the disadvantages associated with known material transfer mechanisms.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transferring material comprising: a first container (2) having a neck (4) wherein the neck (4) has an opening at a distal end from the first container (2) , the neck comprising a normally closed valve (10), wherein the apparatus is characterised by: a second container (20) having an engaging member (30) comprising an inlet passage (36), the inlet passage having at least one sealing member mounted therein, for operably coupling to the neck (4) of the first container (2), wherein the engaging member engages and opens the normally closed valve (10) to transfer material from the first container (2) to the second container (20) through the inlet passage (36) .

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the inlet passage comprises at least one sealing member mounted therein to form a seal between the first container (2) and the second container (20) .

3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the engaging member (30) comprises a bore extending from substantially the top (40) of the engaging member (30), through the centre of the engaging member (30) , into the inlet passage (36) .

4. The apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the valve (10) comprises a valve seat (19) operably coupled to a closure member (18) and means for urging (12) the closure member (18) onto the valve seat (19) .

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim 1, wherein the neck (4) comprises one or more sealing members (6), for example O-rings, located on an external surface (8) of the neck (4) .

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further characterised by a small aperture in the sealing member, or at a base of the engaging member, to allow any material sitting on a seal to drain into the second container (20) .

7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further characterised by the closure member (18) being substantially ball shaped, and in particular a stainless steel ball.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further characterised by the means for urging (12) the closure member (18) against the valve seat (19) being a spring.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the engaging member is sized to displace the closure member (18) from the valve seat (19) to allow material from the first container (2) to travel through the aperture in the engaging member into the second container, and wherein the neck of the first container (2) is sized to fit into the inlet passage (36) of the second container (20) .

10. A donor container (2) adapted to operate in the apparatus according to any preceding Claim.

11. A recipient container (20) adapted to operate in the apparatus according to any preceding Claim.

12. A container (2) for transferring material comprising: a neck (4) having an opening at a distal end, the neck containing a normally closed value (10) , wherein the apparatus is characterised in that the valve (10) comprises a valve seat (19) operably coupled to a closure member (18) closing onto the valve seat (19) and means for urging (12) the closure member (18) onto the valve seat (19) such that pressure applied to the valve (10) enables a second container (20) to receive material.

13. A recipient container (20) for receiving material characterised by: an engaging member (30) comprising an inlet passage (36) , the inlet passage (36) having at least one sealing member mounted therein, for operably coupling to the neck (4) of a donor container (2), wherein the engaging member engages and opens the normally closed valve (10) to transfer material from the donor container (2) to the recipient container (20) through the inlet passage (36) .

14. Apparatus for transferring material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated by, Figure 1 or Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.