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A system for dispensing controlled amounts of flowable materials having a wide range of viscosities, such as food condiments, caulking or adhesives, from a flexible-walled container or bag includes a housing for holding the flexible-walled container and a piston positioned within the housing to appl

A system for dispensing controlled amounts of flowable materials having a wide range of viscosities, such as food condiments, caulking or adhesives, from a flexible-walled container or bag includes a housing for holding the flexible-walled container and a piston positioned within the housing to apply pressure to a wall of the flexible-walled container. An enfitment, which has a piercing member and sealing mechanism, is positioned adjacent an opposite wall of the flexible-walled container. By rotating the enfitment about a rotational axis generally normal to the wall of the first container, the enfitment forms an opening in the flexible-walled container and a seal with the container. The flowable material can then be forced through a hollow tube of the enfitment and an exit nozzle coupled to the enfitment. A desired amount of flowable material can be consistently dispensed from the flexible-walled container by controlling the displacement of the piston along a predetermined piston travel length for each dispensation of flowable material.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for dispensing controlled amounts of flowable materials having a wide range of viscosities, such as food condiments, caulking or adhesives, from a flexible-walled container or bag includes a housing for holding the flexible-walled container and a piston positioned within the housing to appl

A system for dispensing controlled amounts of flowable materials having a wide range of viscosities, such as food condiments, caulking or adhesives, from a flexible-walled container or bag includes a housing for holding the flexible-walled container and a piston positioned within the housing to apply pressure to a wall of the flexible-walled container. An enfitment, which has a piercing member and sealing mechanism, is positioned adjacent an opposite wall of the flexible-walled container. By rotating the enfitment about a rotational axis generally normal to the wall of the first container, the enfitment forms an opening in the flexible-walled container and a seal with the container. The flowable material can then be forced through a hollow tube of the enfitment and an exit nozzle coupled to the enfitment. A desired amount of flowable material can be consistently dispensed from the flexible-walled container by controlling the displacement of the piston along a predetermined piston travel length for each dispensation of flowable material. ston along the stroke axis, and a controller connected to the actuator and configured to control piston movement along the stroke axis so as dispense a controlled amount of flowable material from the flexible-walled container. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the flexible-walled container includes an enfitment.15. The system of claim 13, wherein the piston has a complementary cross-sectional shape, as taken generally normal to the stroke axis of the system, to that of the flexible-walled container.16. The system of claim 13 additionally comprising means for determining piston displacement required to dispense a predetermined amount of flowable material from the flexible walled container.17. The system of claim 13, wherein the motor moves the piston between a plurality of positions which correspond to distinct dispensation steps within a controlled travel range of the piston.18. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of positions along the stroke axis are not at uniform increments.19. The system of claim 13, wherein the motor is bi-directional to provide for reversal of the displacement direction of the piston at the end of each displacement step so that pressure of the flowable material in the flexible-walled container is relieved.20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller provides for moving the piston from a first position where pressure of the flowable material in the flexible-walled container is relieved to a second position where the piston was positioned at the end of a dispensation step.