Fluid medium dispensing system and a method of assembling a dispensing system for a fluid medium

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid medium dispensing system (1) for dispensing a fluid medium stored under pressure. The system (1) comprises a container (30) for storing the fluid medium under pressure, the container (30) comprising a neck (36) defining an opening (32). A valve cup (10) supporting a valve (5) closes the opening (32) of the container (3). The valve cup (10) is secured to the container (30) by an adhesive layer (70) between the valve cup (10) and the neck (36) of the container (30) that thereby seals the container (30). Preferably, the neck (36) of the container (30) and the valve cup (10) define contiguous surfaces (71, 72) respectively between which the adhesive layer (70) is located. Preferably also, the adhesive is a cyanoacrylate adhesive. The invention also provides a method of assembling a BoV dispensing system (1) wherein a bag (100) is secured to the valve (50). In the method the bag (100) is inserted into the container (30) and the valve cup (10) is positioned at the opening (32) of the container (30). The internal volume of the container (30) is then pressurized and an adhesive layer is applied either around the periphery of the valve cup (10) or around the opening (32) of the neck (36) of the container (30). The valve cap (10) is then pressed into the neck (36) of the container (30) and the adhesive layer (70) is allowed to cure to secure the valve cup (10) to the container (30) and to provide a seal.

1 . A fluid medium dispensing system comprising:
 a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure, the container comprising a neck defining an opening;   a valve; and   a valve cup adapted to support the valve and close the opening of the container; and wherein   the valve cup is secured to the container by an adhesive layer between the valve cup and the neck of the container that thereby seals the container.   
     
     
         2 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the neck of the container and the valve cup define contiguous surfaces between which the adhesive layer is located 
     
     
         3 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a cyanoacrylate adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive comprises ethyl cyanoacrylate. 
     
     
         5 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least the neck of the container is formed from a first plastics material, preferably a polyester. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the container is formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). 
     
     
         7 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve cup or a part thereof in contact with the adhesive layer is formed from a rigid, second plastics material. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second plastics material is selected from the group consisting of: crystallized PET, PBT, PEN, PEN/PET copolymers, POM, acrylonitrile, polypropylene, or a blend of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         9 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve cup is push-fitted or snap-fitted to the neck of the container. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid medium dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a bag is attached to the valve such that its inner volume is in fluid communication with channels upstream and downstream of the valve when the valve is open but is not in fluid communication with an interior volume of the container between the inside wall of the container and the outside surface of the bag. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a dispensing system for dispensing a fluid medium stored under pressure, the method including:
 providing a valve cup including a valve and a bag, the valve configured to attach to an opening of the bag,   inserting the valve into the opening of the bag and fluidly sealing the bag to the valve;   providing a container, the container comprising a neck defining an opening and being suitable for storing a fluid medium under pressure;   inserting the bag into the container and positioning the valve cup at the opening of the container;   pressurizing the internal volume of the container;   applying an adhesive layer either around the periphery of the valve cup or around the opening of the neck of the container;   pressing the valve cup into the neck of the container; and   allowing the adhesive layer to cure to secure the valve cup to the container and provide a seal.   
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer is applied either around the periphery of the valve cup or around the opening of the neck of the container by rotating the valve cup and/or the container relative to an adhesive dispenser comprising a dosing device. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a cyanoacrylate adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive comprises ethyl cyanoacrylate. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer is applied to a periphery of the valve cup and allowed to cure at an ambient temperature between 20° C. and 25° C. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer is allowed to cure for up to 72 hours. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer is allowed to cure at a relative humidity of at least 35%, preferably 50%. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in any  claim 13 , wherein the valve cup is push-fitted or snap-fitted into the neck of the container. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer is comprised of less than 1 g of adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in any  claim 11 , wherein at least the neck of the container is formed from a first plastics material, preferably a polyester. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the container is formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the valve cup or a part thereof in contact with the adhesive layer is formed from a rigid, second plastics material. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the second plastics material is selected from the group consisting of: crystallized PET, PBT, PEN, PEN/PET copolymers, POM, acrylonitrile, polypropylene, or a blend of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the internal volume of the container between an inside wall of the container and an outside surface of the bag is pressurized at up to 13 bar. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the internal volume of the container between the inside wall of the container and the outside surface of the bag is pressurized at between 1 and 3 bar inclusive.