BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Field of the Invention: Embodiments of the invention relate to filling and priming systems and methods and more particularly to systems and methods for removing air from a pump system or evacuating the head space of a package and pump combination.

[0002] State of the Art: Many packaging systems include a container or bottle with a pump attached thereto such that the pump may be used to evacuate a product from the container or bottle. For example, in the home and garden markets, triggers sprayers are often attached to bottles filled with a liquid product. The trigger sprayer mounted on the bottle may move or otherwise disperse liquid product from within the bottle to an exterior thereof. Similarly, pumps are used in the personal and beauty care markets to remove product from a bottle or container. For instance, a small pump may be attached to a bottle of product, such as a facial cream, and used to disperse the product from the bottle or a fine mist pump may be used to disperse a

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a priming system may include a frame to which is mounted one or more sensors, a pump guide, a driver to move the pump guide, and an opening pin associated with the pump guide. A pump loaded into the priming system may include an outlet valve which may be opened by the opening pin and a vacuum may be applied to the open valve through a vacuum path associated with the priming system. The one or more sensors may detect when the pump has been primed or when sufficient product is flowing through the pump, at which point the vacuum may be disengaged or the opening pin disengaged, or both.

[0004] According to various embodiments of the invention, different sensors may be used to facilitate and detect complete, or near complete evacuation of air or gas from a pouch or other container attached to a pump. Evacuation of the air or gas may serve to prime or pre-prime the pump such that users need not prime the pump or such that users may have an easier time using the pump. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a priming system according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the priming system illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a priming system according to various embodiments of the invention; and

[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a priming system according to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to various embodiments of the invention, a priming system 100 or evacuation system may include a frame 110, a driver 120, a pump guide 130, a valve opening pin 135, a vacuum path 139, and one or more sensors 150. A pump 200 may be guided into the priming system 100 and air or gas or a combination of air, gas, and product may be evacuated from the pump 200.

[0011] A priming system 100 according to certain embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGs. 1 through 4. As illustrated, a pump 200 may be guided into the priming system 100 as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 2. The pump 200 may be guided by any known method. Once in position, the pump guide 130 may be lowered into contact with the pump 200 such that at least the opening pin 135 contacts an outlet valve 235 of the pump 200, thereby opening the outlet valve 235. A vacuum path 139 may be in communication with a vacuum source such that once the outlet valve 235 is open, a vacuum is formed within the pump 200, drawing air, gas, product, or any combination thereof out of a pouch 290 attached to the pump 200. As the air, gas, product or combination thereof is being evacuated through the vacuum path 139, a sensor 150 may detect the flow of the air, gas, product or combination thereof and disengage the vacuum or the opening pin 135 upon reaching a defined evacuation of the pump 200. In this manner, a pump 200 and pouch 290 combination may be primed for immediate use after being released from the priming system 100.

[0012] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a sensor 150 may include a proximity sensor. In some embodiments, a capacitive sensor may be used. In other

embodiments, other sensors capable of determining flow of a product into a pump 200 head may be used as desired. For example, ultrasonic sensors, pressure sensors, volume differential sensors, vision sensors, force detection sensors, or others may be used with various embodiments of the invention.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the invention, a capacitive sensor may be used as the sensor 150 and it may be mounted on a frame 110 such that the positioning of the sensor 150 may be adjusted in three or more directions. For example, the horizontal, vertical, and depth of the sensor 150 may be altered for the size of a pump 200 being primed. In some embodiments of the invention, control of the movement or positioning of the sensor 150 may be accomplished in real time using control units such that different sized pumps 200 may be primed continuously in an assembly, filling, or other process.

[0014] In some embodiments of the invention, a sensor 150 may include a sensor head 155 as illustrated. The sensor head 155 may emit an electromagnetic wave, electron wave, or other energy and may detect the energy returned to the sensor 150. Changes in the energy returned to the sensor head 155 may be used to determine whether or not the vacuum is shut off or the opening pin 135 is disengaged from the pump 200.

[0015] According to various embodiments of the invention, the sensor 150 sensitivity may be adjusted as desired.

[0016] According to various embodiments of the invention, the opening pin 135 force may be adjusted as desired.

[0017] According to various embodiments of the invention, the vacuum force applied to the vacuum path 139 or through the vacuum path 139 may be adjusted as desired.

[0018] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a pump 200 may include a pump head attached to, or incorporated with, a canoe 230. A pouch 290, bag, bottle, or other container may be attached to the pump 200. For instance, a pouch 290 may be sealed to the canoe 230 such that the pump 200 may pump a product from within the pouch 290 through the pump 200 and out the outlet valve 235. An example of such a pouch 290 is illustrated in dotted lines in FIGs. 2 and 4. While a particular pouch 290 shape is illustrated, it is understood that any container or pouch 290 shape or configuration may be used with various embodiments of the invention.

[0019] A pump 200 may also include a pump actuator 210 as illustrated or in any other form such that the pump actuator 210 may be used to actuate the pump 200.

[0020] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a pump 200 may include any of those disclosed in either of PCT Applications PCT/US 2010/029140 (WO/2010/117754) or PCT/US2011/057781 (WO/2012/094049), which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, may be primed using a pump evacuation system or pump priming system 100 according to embodiments of the invention. For example, the pump 300 illustrated in FIGs. 1 lA-1 ID, and 12 through 15 of PCT/US2010/029140 may be attached to a pouch 290, filled, and then primed according to embodiments of the invention. In such an example, a valve opening pin 135 may act on, push, or open an outlet valve 235 of a pump 200. With the outlet valve 235 opened, a vacuum acting on the vacuum path 139 may act on an inlet valve in the pump 200 to open the inlet valve and draw air or gas out of the pouch 290. In some instances, an inlet valve may include a valve disc and one or more valve rims, wherein the vacuum pressure flexes the valve disc such that a valve rim is unseated, allowing air or product to flow out of a pouch 290 and into the pump 200. Continued evacuation may draw air or gas out of the outlet valve 235.

[0021] While various embodiments of the invention are described, it is understood that the priming system 100 may include other components or may be integrated with a filling line or assembly process. In addition, the priming system 100 may be controlled by a computer system, other automated system, or used in a hand-operation, such as on a bench-scale device for example.

[0022] Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only by the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.