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A flexible pouch and valve assembly is provided for aseptically storing a substance, dispensing multiple portions of the stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere. The flexible pouch and valve assemb

A flexible pouch and valve assembly is provided for aseptically storing a substance, dispensing multiple portions of the stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere. The flexible pouch and valve assembly are receivable within a relatively rigid housing, and are adapted to cooperate with a pump for pumping discrete portions of substance from the pouch and through the one-way valve to dispense the substance therefrom. The assembly comprises a flexible pouch defining therein a variable-volume storage chamber sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere for aseptically storing therein multiple portions of the substance. A one-way valve of the assembly includes a valve body defining an axially-extending valve seat and at least one flow aperture extending through the valve body and/or the valve seat.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An assembly for aseptically storing a substance in a flexible pouch, dispensing multiple portions of stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the flexible pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere, wherein the assembly is receivable within a

1. An assembly for aseptically storing a substance in a flexible pouch, dispensing multiple portions of stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the flexible pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere, wherein the assembly is receivable within a relatively rigid housing and adapted to cooperate with a pump for pumping discrete portions of the substance from the flexible pouch and through a one-way valve to dispense the substance therefrom, the assembly comprising: the flexible pouch defining therein a variable-volume storage chamber sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere for aseptically storing therein multiple portions of the substance;a one-way valve connectible in fluid communication with the substance from the variable-volume storage chamber and including a valve seat; and a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines an interference fit with the valve seat, the valve portion and the valve seat define a normally closed valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat, and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the valve portion spaced away from the valve seat to allow passage of substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening, wherein in the normally closed and open positions the one-way valve maintains the substance remaining in the variable-volume storage chamber in the aseptic condition and sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere; anda pump operatively coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and the one-way valve, and a control unit electrically coupled to the pump to control operation of the pump and, in turn, control dispensing of substance within the variable-volume storage chamber, through the one-way valve, and out of the assembly. 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch defines a sealed, empty, aseptic storage chamber adapted to receive therein a substance to be stored and dispensed therefrom. 3. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch is aseptically filled with a substance that is at least one of a vaccine, medicine, pharmaceutical product, food and beverage. 4. An assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the substance is selected from the group including a milk-based product, a non-acid product, a water-based product, milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream, half-and-half, baby formula, growing up milk, yogurt, soup, ice cream, juice, syrup, coffee, condiments, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and coffee aroma. 5. An assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flexible tube coupled in fluid communication between the pouch and one-way valve. 6. An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the flexible tube is connected to the flexible pouch and one-way valve by at least one of (i) a fitting mounted on at least one of the flexible pouch and one-way valve that frictionally engages a respective end of the tube to form a hermetic seal therebetween, (ii) a heat seal, (iii) a weld, and (iv) an adhesive. 7. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the pouch is formed of a plastic laminate including an oxygen/water barrier and an approved food contact layer. 8. An assembly as defined in claim 1, in combination with a dispenser comprising a relatively rigid container receiving therein the flexible pouch, and a surface for supporting and positioning the one-way valve for dispensing substances therefrom and into another container. 9. An assembly and dispenser as defined in claim 8, wherein the dispenser includes at least one pouch, and the at least one pouch includes at least one of coffee, coffee concentrate, milk, milk-based product, half-and-half, and creamer. 10. An assembly and dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the dispenser includes at least one additional pouch containing coffee aroma. 11. An assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a relatively rigid container receiving therein the flexible pouch. 12. An assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the relatively rigid container is made of either cardboard or plastic. 13. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump. 14. An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump that engages an external portion of the flexible tube to pump substance therethrough. 15. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the valve portion and valve seat define a decreasing degree of interference therebetween in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening, (ii) the valve portion defines a decreasing radial thickness when moving in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening, and (iii) the valve portion and valve seat define a configuration such that the energy required to open respective segments in the valve portion progressively decreases in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening. 16. An assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a penetrable and resealable portion, wherein the penetrable and resealable portion is (i) penetrable with a filling or injection member for introducing the substance therethrough and into the variable volume storage chamber, and (ii) resealable to reseal a resultant penetrated region of the penetrable and resealable portion, and in turn, seal the substance in the variable-volume storage chamber with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 17. An assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the penetrable and resealable portion is thermally resealable by applying at least one of laser radiation and thermal energy thereto. 18. An assembly for aseptically storing a substance in a flexible pouch, dispensing multiple portions of stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the flexible pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere, wherein the assembly is receivable within a relatively rigid housing and adapted to cooperate with a pump for pumping discrete portions of the substance from the flexible pouch and through a one-way valve to dispense the substance therefrom, the assembly comprising: first means defining therein a flexible, variable-volume storage chamber sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere for aseptically storing therein multiple portions of the substance;second means for allowing substance from the variable-volume storage chamber to be dispensed therethrough, and for maintaining the substance remaining in the variable-volume storage chamber in an aseptic condition and sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere during and after dispensing of substance therethrough; wherein the second means includes third means for forming a valve seat, and fourth means mounted on the third means, and including an elastic, portion overlying the third means defining an interference fit with the third means, and defining between the third and fourth means, a normally closed, valve opening, and for moving between (i) a normally closed position with the fourth means engaging the third means, and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the fourth means spaced away from the third means to allow passage of substance from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening, and for maintaining the substance remaining in the variable-volume storage chamber in the aseptic condition and sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere in the normally closed and open positions; anda pump operatively coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and the second means, and a control unit electrically coupled to the pump to control operation of the pump and, in turn, control dispensing of substance within the variable-volume storage chamber, through the second means, and out of the assembly. 19. An assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber contains a milk-based product, and the second means is for substantially preventing micro-organisms from entering into the variable-volume storage chamber and for permitting the milk-based product to be stored and dispensed without refrigeration. 20. An assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the first means is a flexible pouch, the second means is one-way valve, the third means is a valve body, and the fourth means is a flexible valve cover. 21. A method for storing substance and dispensing multiple portions of stored substance, comprising the following steps: (1) providing an assembly comprising (i) a storage chamber, (ii) a one-way valve connectible in fluid communication with substance from the storage chamber and including a valve seat and a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines an interference fit with the valve seat, the valve portion and the valve seat define a normally closed valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable relative to the valve seat between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve portion spaced away from the valve seat to allow passage of substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (iii) a pump operatively coupled between the storage chamber and the one-way valve, and a control unit electrically coupled to the pump to control operation of the pump and, in turn, control dispensing of the substance within the storage chamber, through the one-way valve, and out of the assembly;(2) storing multiple portions of the substance in the storage chamber in an aseptic condition;(3) actuating the control unit and pump and in turn, dispensing the substance from the storage chamber through the one-way valve and out of the assembly; and(4) maintaining the substance in the storage chamber in the aseptic condition during the shelf life and dispensing of the substance through the one-way valve. 22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the storage chamber comprises a hermetically sealed variable volume-storage chamber;the storing step further comprises storing the substance in the variable storage chamber at least one of (i) in a substantially airless condition, (ii) preservative-free, and (iii) at ambient temperature; andthe maintaining step further comprises maintaining the substance in the variable-volume storage chamber at least one of (i) in a substantially airless condition, (ii) preservative-free, and (iii) at ambient temperature during the shelf life and dispensing of the substance through the one-way valve. 23. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein at least one of (i) the valve portion and valve seat define a decreasing degree of interference therebetween in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening, (ii) the valve portion defines a decreasing radial thickness when moving in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening, and (iii) the valve portion and valve seat define a configuration such that the energy required to open respective segments in the valve portion progressively decreases in a direction from an upstream end toward a downstream end of the valve opening. 24. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of aseptically filling the storage chamber with at least one of a vaccine, medicine, pharmaceutical product, food and beverage. 25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the filling step comprises filling the storage chamber with at least one of a milk-based product, a baby formula, and a water-based product. 26. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the assembly further comprises a penetrable and resealable portion; and the step of aseptically filling the storage chamber comprises: penetrating the penetrable and resealable portion with a filling or injection member;introducing the substance through the filling or injection member and into the storage chamber;withdrawing the filling or injection member from the penetrable and resealable portion; andhermetically resealing the penetrable and resealable portion. 27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the resealing step comprises applying either thermal energy or laser radiation and thereby thermally resealing the penetrable and resealable portion. 28. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump, the assembly further comprises a flexible tube coupled in fluid communication between the pouch and one-way valve, and the dispensing step includes engaging with the peristaltic pump an external portion of the flexible tube and pumping the substance therethrough.