Method and Apparatus for Refilling a Container with a Fluid

a technology for refilling containers and fluids, which is applied in the direction of bio-packaging, sustainable manufacturing/processing, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of limited product use of long-lasting fluids, limited container cleaning and sanitation, and non-biodegradable waste, etc., to reduce environmental contamination and reduce non-biodegradable waste

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-01-06
MORALES MANUEL A
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present invention provides a method and apparatus for refilling a reusable container in order to reduce the non-biodegradable waste and environment contamination. One of the invention's objects is to allow a person / consumer to refill the container with any fluid dispensed by said apparatus such as a vending machine.

Problems solved by technology

The container can be used for refilling multiple times, however the container is limited to only be filled with the same fluid or long lasting products.
No cleaning or sanitation of the container is done in order to provide for fluids of short expiration time such as milk, juice and others.
Again the product is limited to the use of long lasting fluid, since no sanitation process is disclosed.

Method used

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  • Method and Apparatus for Refilling a Container with a Fluid
  • Method and Apparatus for Refilling a Container with a Fluid
  • Method and Apparatus for Refilling a Container with a Fluid

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0029]The present invention overcomes all the disadvantages mentioned above by providing a method and apparatus for refilling a container with fluids having a short shelf life.

[0030]The main components of the preferred embodiment are a container 1 and a vending machine 3. FIG. 1 shows the container 1 having a label 2 which is made of durable material, is easy to handle, capable of maintaining a certain temperature, should not exhibit carryover flavors and has readable means in order to acquire information or / and identify the container.

[0031]The container 1 is configured to interact with the vending machine 3 in such way that a smoother cleaning and refilling process is provided. FIG. 2a-2c shows the preferred embodiment of the container 1 comprising readable means 1′-1″, an opening 1b, lateral grooves 1d and bottom grooves 1c. The readable means 1′, 1″, are embedded in the container 1 structure in such way that it is protected from the environment. The container 1 readable means, su...

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PUM

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for cleaning, sanitizing, and refilling reusable containers in order to reduce the non-biodegradable waste and environment contamination. The apparatus and process allows a person/consumer to refill the container with any fluid dispensed by said apparatus such as a vending machine. Depending on the fluid selection of the consumer the vending machine sanitizes the container before any fluid is dispensed in it. Further, the machine provides the branding of the container depending on the consumer selection allowing people and consumer recognition of the product and enticing manufacturers to participate.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 060515 filed on Apr. 21, 2008.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]N / ABACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The invention is related to a method and apparatus for refilling a container but more specifically to the identification, user interaction, and sanitizing of a container and refilling of fluid having short shelf life fluids.[0005]2. Discussion of the Background[0006]Lately people are concerned about the environment and are looking for ways to protect it. For example, in order to reduce the use of plastic waste, reusable containers are now utilized. U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,818 to Bradburry, discloses a method of vending a containerized product using multiple fillings of the same container. The method includes the steps of placing machine-readable indicia or means for reading on the container indicative of the price charged for both ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B65D8/00
CPCB65D2203/00B67D7/346B67D7/02B65D2203/10B67D1/0888B67D1/0804B67D2001/0811G07F7/0609G07F13/10Y02W30/80Y02W90/10
Inventor MORALES, MANUEL A.
Owner MORALES MANUEL A
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