Bag cartridges for filling / finishing systems

Abstract

A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a fluid-connected flexible tube, the device comprising a housing for the consumable and means for deploying the flexible tubing of the consumable housed in the housing, wherein the deployment means is configured to facilitate the movement of the tubing between a storage configuration and an deployed configuration, so that in the deployed configuration, the ends of the tubing extend outside the housing, thereby allowing the ends of the tubing to be engaged by a robotic device.

Claims

1. A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a fluid-connected flexible tube, wherein the device is The housing for the aforementioned consumables, Means for deploying the flexible tubing of the consumables housed in the housing, Equipped with, The deployment means is configured to facilitate the movement of the tubing between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration, so that when in the deployed configuration, the end of the tubing extends outside the housing, thereby allowing the end of the tubing to be engaged by a robotic device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an opening through which the tube extends, and the deployment means facilitates the continuous movement of the tubing from the opening.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the deployment means is configured to facilitate the repeatable movement of the tubing between the storage configuration and the deployment configuration.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deployment means comprises a gripping member configured to engage with the tubing and restrain the movement of the tubing.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the deployment means comprises a retractable spool element configured to engage with the tubing, and preferably the device further comprises an elongated slot in which the spool element is movably mounted.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the spool element is configured to engage with a robotic device and to be moved relative to the housing by the robotic device.

7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the spool element comprises a groove configured to provide a guide, and the tubing extends along the guide.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the deployment means comprises an elastic biasing means, the elastic biasing means is configured to engage with the tubing and bias the tubing toward the storage configuration.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the elastic biasing means comprises a spring element, the spring element having a first end fixedly attached to the consumable and a second end comprising a tube guide configured to engage with the tubing.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the deployment means comprises at least one drivable roller, for example, a roller that can be rotatably driven by an electric motor.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing comprises a frame, and the frame has one or more engaging components and / or alignment components on its outer surface.

12. The aforementioned frame is A front panel comprising at least one of the aforementioned engagement components, A top panel extending from the upper end of the front panel, the top panel comprising a retainer for suspending the consumables, A bottom panel extending from the lower end of the front panel, wherein the bottom panel is configured to support a tubing compartment on its upper surface, The device according to claim 11, comprising:

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising at least two side panels extending from the front panel, wherein the side panels are arranged to support the consumable when the consumable is suspended from the top panel.

14. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the frame comprises an opening through which the end of the tubing extends, and the engaging component and / or the alignment component is located at a predetermined distance from the opening.

15. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising a tubing compartment configured to hold tubing of a certain length in the storage configuration.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the tubing compartment is separable from the frame, thereby allowing the consumables and the tubing to be removed from the frame.

17. The device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the means for deploying the flexible tubing is formed by the tubing compartment.

18. A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a fluid-connected flexible tube, wherein the device is The housing for the aforementioned consumables, Means for detecting the presence of a fluid, Equipped with, The detection means is configured to detect the presence of fluid in the housing, thereby indicating that there is a leak in the consumable housing.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the housing includes a base portion arranged to collect fluid leaked from the consumables.

20. The device according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the base portion is configured to have a fluid collection tank, and preferably the fluid collection tank is positioned lower than the rest of the base portion.

21. The device according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the detection means comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the humidity inside the housing.

22. The device according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the housing comprises an intake port, an exhaust port, and an air path extending between the intake port and the exhaust port, the air path being arranged to pass below the consumables, and preferably the detection means comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the pressure of the air exiting the housing through the exhaust port.

23. A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a fluid-connected flexible tube, wherein the device is A housing for the consumables, wherein the housing has an outer frame including an upper member and two side members extending downward at opposite ends of the upper member, An elastic biasing means provided on one of the two side members, Equipped with, The biasing means is a device that, when brought into contact with the surface, biases the surface, thereby pulling the housing away from the surface.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the biasing means comprises an elastically deformable element, preferably a spring element.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the element comprises an elongated finger attached to the side member at a first end, the finger having a second free end spaced apart from the side member, which allows the finger to be elastically deformed.

26. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the upper member comprises at least one alignment mechanism configured to automatically position the housing by engaging with a corresponding alignment mechanism located within a receptacle for the device to automatically position the housing in a predetermined position.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the upper member comprises a flange portion extending at least partially outward from the upper member, and the alignment mechanism is provided on the flange portion.

28. The device according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the alignment mechanism on the upper member comprises an inclined recess configured to be received in a hole and thereby restrict further movement of the housing, and preferably the inclined recess is substantially V-shaped.

29. A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a fluid-connected flexible tube, wherein the device is The housing for the aforementioned consumables, A robotic device is provided on the outer surface of the housing for engagement with at least one pickup mechanism, Equipped with, The pickup mechanism is configured such that the robotic device engages securely with the housing when it is in a desired orientation, thereby keeping the housing in the desired configuration while the robotic device repeatedly engages with the housing.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the pickup mechanism is located on the side surface of the housing.

31. The device according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the pickup mechanism comprises a substantially flat pickup element having a substantially inverted triangular portion arranged to be engaged by engaging elements on a robotic device, for example, engaging elements arranged in an inverted triangular configuration.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein the pickup engaging element has opposite sides that are substantially parallel to each other toward the lower surface of the pickup element.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the lower surface of the pickup element has a notch, groove, or slot extending inward to receive an engaging element of a robotic device.

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