The present invention relates to a vibration decoupling connector and in particular although not solely a connector that can be used as a weighing bellow.

BACKGROUND

The batched delivery of material, particularly in the food industry for the preparation of ingredients for the manufacture of food, may involve equipment that weighs a dose of a batch of material to be delivered as part of the food manufacturing process. The weighing equipment needs to accurately measure a dose of the material before it is being delivered to subsequent steps in the food manufacturing process. The dose of materials can be weighed by a load a cell weighing station for example. The material is typically supplied from upstream equipment such as a mixer or feeder or hopper or the like including in some instances via a rotary valve.

In the process of preparing food ingredients, hygiene and a high degree of cleanliness to help avoidance of contamination is required. As such the systems used for food manufacturing are often closed systems to help keep outside contaminants out. To achieve this they rely on delivery conduits creating confined passages for materials to pass through and be delivered downstream, to achieve a high standard of hygiene.

Equipment used in the systems are often subject to vibrational forces or loads that are inherent in the operation of the equipment or that are actively induced for the purposes of facilitating the transporting the material through the system. Vibrational hoppers are an example of such equipment. So are rotary valves.

The delivery of a dose of material to a weighing station via a conduit may often place undesirable or unknown loads onto the weigh station therefor providing an inaccurate measure of doses in the manufacturing process.

Weighing bellows have been developed to help reduce the vibration or shock or load transmitted from equipment onto a load cell of a weighing station. Weighing bellows are an element introduced into the flow path of material between rigid pipes or tubes and are made of a flexible material with a constructed bellow shape so that the force from a delivery conduit to a weigh station can be reduced for eliminated by virtue of the weighing bellows providing a shock absorbing function. The weighing bellows will have an upper and lower cuff respectively engaged to a delivery conduit and a conduit connected to a weighing station. The cuffs are connected to the rigid conduits on each side of the weighing bellows using a pipe or hose clamp. The use of a pipe or hose clamp is time consuming particularly when the weighing bellow is required to be replaced. Replacement may be relatively common due to wear of the bellows. The use of pipe clamps on the cuffs of a weighing bellow can also, if not installed accurately can also cause the creation of pockets of material at the weighing bellows that are not transported through the food processing system. These pockets of material are undesirable from a hygiene point of view. Some food ingredients may decompose or rot or convert into undesirable contaminates within the food processing system and it is therefore an undesirable state of affairs in the use of weighing bellows that are connected to the rigids conduits of a food processing system using pipe clamps or hose clamps.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vibration decoupling connector which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to be a vibration decoupling connector to create a continuity of passage of material flowing from a vibrating inlet conduit through the connector to an outlet conduit, the connector comprising a primary passage defining member (herein after "passage member") comprising a wall of a flexible film material extending between an inlet cuff defining an inlet opening of the passage member and an outlet cuff defining an outlet opening of the passage member, the inlet and outlet cuffs adapted and configured for releasably connecting to the inlet and outlet conduits respectively, the wall having a bellow shape intermediate of the inlet and outlet cuffs to decouple the inlet and outlet conduits vibrationally and wherein at least one of the inlet and outlet cuffs comprises a resiliently deformable snap band underlying a radially outward profiled ring that is able to be releasably registered in a complimentary profiled spigot of at least one of said inlet and outlet conduits and when so registered creates an interface with the inlet/outlet conduit that prevents said material from escaping the passage and securely holds the connector to the inlet/outlet conduit. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a vibration decoupling connector to confine a flow of material from an upstream inlet conduit for downstream discharge to a downstream outlet conduit, the connector comprising a wall of a flexible plastic film presenting an inlet opening at where the connector is able to be releasably coupled at an opening of and to the inlet conduit and an outlet opening at where the conduit is able to be releasably coupled at an opening of and to the outlet conduit and between which the wall continuously spans to define a passage for material from the inlet conduit to pass through the connector to the outlet conduit, wherein the wall, intermediate of the inlet and outlet openings, includes a bellow shaped section to reduce transmission of inlet conduit vibration to the outlet conduit and wherein at at least one of the inlet and outlet openings of the connector presents a deformable profiled entrance zone to shape retain snap fit within a complementary profiled opening of the respective inlet and outlet conduits.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a materials transportation system that comprises an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit and a connector as herein defined, located intermediate of the inlet and outlet conduits in a releasable manner.

Preferably the outlet conduit presents a spigot with which outlet cuff can releasable engage.

Preferably the inlet conduit presents a spigot with which inlet cuff can releasable engage.

Preferably the connector at the at least one of said inlet and outlet openings comprises of a shape retaining member.

Preferably the shape retaining member is of circular or cylindrical form.

Preferably the shape retaining member is of a metal or metal alloy.

Preferably the shape retaining member is a snap band. Preferably at the inlet of the connector there is provided an inwardly deformable profiled ring to be nested inside a profiled spigot defining the opening of the inlet conduit.

Preferably at the outlet of the connector there is provided an inwardly deformable profiled ring to be nested inside a profiled spigot defining the opening of the outlet conduit.

Preferably the inlet cuff comprises an annularly profiled ring outwardly of the snap band.

Preferably the outlet cuff comprises an annularly profiled ring outwardly of the snap band.

Preferably the or each annularly profiled ring has at least one annular rib directed to the outwardly.

Preferably the or each cuff is resilient so as to be deformable inwardly of the elongate direction of the connector to facilitate insertion or removal of the cuff to/from the profiled spigot but with sufficient return bias to or towards a more relaxed condition such that the cuff and the spigot holds the spigot and connector against axial separation.

Preferably the snap band is resilient so as to be deformable inwardly of the elongate direction of the connector with its adjacent profiled ring, to facilitate insertion or removal of the band and profiled ring from the profiled spigot but with sufficient return bias to or towards a more relaxed condition such that the at least one annular rib in engagement with the spigot holds the spigot and connector against axial separation.

Preferably the two such ribs are part of said profiled ring.

Preferably the snap band underlies a profiled ring, that profiled ring providing the ribs.

Preferably a fold back of the wall encloses said profiled ring and snap band.

Preferably the profiled ring has two parallel annular ribs and the respective spigot has two parallel complementary grooves that each conform to a said annular rib of the ring. Preferably the connector is retrofittable to the inlet and outlet conduits.

Preferably the connector is not secured using pipe clamps to inlet and outlet conduits.

Preferably the wall extends in a cylindrical manner from each respective cuff to a bellow formation intermediate.

Preferably the bellow formation has been created by thermal forming of a precursor cylindrical wall that extended from the inlet cuff to the outlet cuff.

Preferably the flexible film material is of a wall thickness that is less at the bellow formation compared to the cylindrical regions of the wall.

Preferably the wall extends in a conical manner from each respective cuff to a bellow formation intermediate.

Preferably the outlet opening of the connector is of a larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area than its inlet opening.

Preferably the inlet opening of the connector is of a larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area than its outlet opening.

Preferably the inlet opening of the connector is of the same cross sectional area as the cross sectional area as its outlet opening.

Preferably the connector is a unit able to be secured and removed from the inlet and outlet conduits without using tools.

Preferably the connector is a unit able to be secured and removed from the inlet and outlet conduits by the snap fit arrangement as herein described.

Preferably the connector is a unit able to be secured and removed from the inlet and outlet conduits only by the snap fit arrangement as herein described.

Preferably the connector is a consumable provided as a unit.

Preferably the connector is a disposable unit. Preferably the connector is generally cylindrical with at least one bellow formation intermediate of its inlet and outlet cuffs.

Preferably the connector is generally of a plastics material or materials save for the snap band.

Preferably the connector is a weighing bellow.

Preferably the outlet conduit is part of a weight station to weight a charge of material that has passed through the connector.

Preferably the connector is able to releasably engage and disengage with the inlet and/or outlet conduits in a tool-less manner.

Preferably the connector is able to releasably engage and disengage with the inlet and/or outlet conduits not requiring any tools.

Preferably the connector is able to releasably engage and disengage with the inlet and/or outlet conduits manually by an adult human and not requiring the use of any tools.

Preferably the wall spans between the inlet and outlet as continuous section of said film material (eg so that there are no crevices of cracks or seams (other than an optional seal that extend parallel the elongate direction between the inlet and outlet) exists to help prevent build up trapping of material and/or weak points in wall.

Preferably the connector reduced the transmission of vibration from the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit.

In a further aspect the present invention comprises a method of making a connector as herein described comprising: thermoforming from a single piece of passage member defining wall material of a precursor cylindrical shape, a bellow shape, intermediate of the inlet and outlet cuffs.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a connector as herein described.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a connector as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "plastic" shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products, and generally consisting of a hydrocarbon-based polymer.

For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification [and claims] means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in this specification [and claims] which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.)

BRIEF DESCRIPITON OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a connector of the present invention

Figure 2 is a side view of the connector of the present invention in a more compressed configuration,

Figure 3 is a view through the wall of the connectors when in the more compressed condition

Figure 4 is a view through the wall of the connectors when in a less compressed condition

Figure 5 shows an inlet conjugant that may be connected to a hopper or the like

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view through part of figure 5

Figure 7 shows an inlet conjugant and the inlet cuff of a connector and partial cross-section engaged with each other

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through part of a spigot

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through part of a connector showing the assembly at a cuff Figure 10 illustrates the process of the engagement and disengagement of a connector with an inlet or outlet conjugant

Figure 11 shows a partial cutaway cross-sectional view of a connector and a conjugant at their interface

Figure 12 is a partial cutaway perspective view at the interface of a connector and a conjugant

Figure 13 is a side view of part of a connector

Figure 14 is a further view of a cuff of a connector

Figure 15 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the cuff of a connector

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a spigot

Figure 17 is a side view of part of a connector of an alternative configuration

Figure 18 is a further view of a cuff of a connector of the alternative configuration

Figure 19 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the cuff of a connector of the alternative configuration Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a spigot of the alternative configuration, Figure 21 is a perspective view of a spigot and inlet opening

Figure 22 is a plan view of the spigot of figure 21

Figure 23 is a side view of the inlet and spigot of figure 21

Figure 24 is a view through cross-section AA of figure 22,

Figure 25 is a perspective view of a coupler,

Figure 26 is an alternative perspective view of a coupler, and Figure 27 is an alternative perspective view of a coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred form of the present invention the vibration decoupling connector 200 (herein after "connector") is shown in figure 1. It defines a passageway for the transfer of material upstream of the connector to downstream of the connector. Downstream of the connector may be for example a weigh station where a dose of material received from upstream, is able to be weighed before it is transferred to a further downstream location.

The connector 200 is able to be placed intermediate of, and provides a continuation of the passageway of material, an upstream inlet conduit 1000 and a downstream conduit 2000.

The connector comprises an inlet opening 150 at where an inlet cuff 100 is provided. The connector also comprises an outlet opening 151 at where an outlet cuff 300 is provided. Intermediate of the ends of the connector at where the cuffs 100/300 are provided, is a primary passage defining member (eg passage member 600) that defines a passage 700 through the connector. The passage member 600 is preferably a thin flexible film material defining a wall intermediate of the ends to define and enclosed passage through the connector. The wall is preferably cylindrical as seen in the figures, save for the bellow region 400. In an alternative form the wall may be frusto-conical where the inlet and outlet cuffs are of a different size.

Preferably at least one and preferably both ends of the connector 200 are adapted for releasable connection at outlet openings of respective upstream and downstream conduits. For example, when in use and oriented vertically the top of the connector has an inlet cuff 100 adapted to conform and engage outwardly into a complementary profiled region of the spigot 8 of an outlet conduit 3 such as of a rotary valve or dosing valve or hopper or other plant equipment 1000. Details of the inlet cuff 100 will hereinafter be described. Such details can be mirrored in principle and preferably also in size and shape and configuration at the other end of the connector as an outlet cuff 300 at its interface with the downstream conduit 2000.

The connector 200 is able to releasably engage to the profiled exit 2 of the plant equipment reliant on deformable profiled entrance of the inlet cuff 100 located at one end of the connector. The deformable profiled entrance forms part of the connector and is an entrance to the passage through the connector. It is deformable to allow it to snap fit within a complimentary profiled exit 2 (that is preferably tubular) of the outlet conduit 3 of or connected to plant equipment that may move and/or vibrate and shake during operation.

The connector also comprises an outlet cuff 300 that is similarly configured to allow the connector thereat to connect to a downstream conduit 2000 .

The wall 186 of the connector is for example seen in Figures 3 and 4 includes a bellow formation. The bellow formation creates series of articulated wall section that can hinge relative to each other so that when a compressive force is applied to the connector the force is not or only slightly transmitted from one cuff to the other. This aids in the reduction of the transmission of vibration between the inlet and outlet conduit via the connector.

The passage member may have a single or double bellow. Such may be inward but preferably outward formed from the flanking tubular sections 81 and 82 of the passage member 600.

This material of the wall 186 is preferably at least substantially, if not totally, gas impervious as its role is to convey particulate materials rather than to separate particulate materials from any air or gas that may be moving therewith, whether as an entrainment flow or not. The wall is preferably a TPU.

At one or both the inlet and outlet ends of the connector is a cuff as shown in figures 7,9,12. At the or each cuff the connector is able to releasable inter-engage with respective upstream and downstream conduits. The cuff is to act to the outside in its interengagement utilising a resilient ring or band (such as a snap band 14). The snap and acts radially outwardly to help retain the shape of a radially outward profile of the cuff. The radially outward profile of the cuff is preferably defined by a radially outward profiled ring region or ring 15 that overlies the snap band 14. The assembly of profiled ring 15 about the snap band 14 is preferably captured by the fold back 1 A of the wall 186 which is then attached adhesively such as by heat and/or ultrasonic welding at 16.

The wall 186 extends to the fold back 1A from which it can be deformed inwardly as in the inter-engagement form shown in Figure 7. The wall 186 is preferably continuous over the length of the connector between the inlet opening and outlet opening. The continuation of the wall 186 to the fold back 1 A creates a passage through the connector that is continuous between the inlet and outlet openings of the connector. This means that entrapment of material passing through the connectors is minimised if not eliminated.

The profiled ring 15 and snap band 14 need not be adhered one to the other but can be if desired.

Such an arrangement shown in Figure 7 is then able to inter-engage in a holding engagement with the interior of a complimentary profiled exit 2 of outlet conduit 3.

A preferred method of inter-engaging is as shown in Figures 10-11. As seen there is a outlet conduits that comprises a spigot 8 of the equipment to receive a cuff of the connector reliant upon the deformability and resilience of the snap band 14.

Upon release from the condition as shown in Figure 10 a firm interengagement as shown in Figure 7 will result. To remove the flexible ring from the interengagement there is a similar distortion required to enable its ready removal.

In preferred forms of the present invention a suitable plastics material can be used for the profiled ring 15. It is shape retaining but can be resilient so that it can conform to the deformation required of the snap band 14 which preferably is of a suitable material e.g. a suitable steel (preferably stainless steel) or could be some appropriate composite or plastics material. When presented in a ring form, the snap band 14 will be resiliently deformable and be caused to move to its shape retaining shape when no pressure is applied to deform it. Depending on usage, the connector may be made to a food grade material or materials.

Alternative materials to any of those described can be used. There is no need for the material of the connector to be homogeneous, i.e. it can have localised regions of different properties (e.g. material, rigidity, etc) if that is desirable in a particular application.

Various shapes of profiled ring 15 may be utilised. A double ribbed profiled ring 15 is shown in figure 9. Other profiled end forms of the connector are within the scope of the invention that provide for appropriate retention. These may include one or more annular rib. They may include one or more channel. It is preferred that the profiling be of an annular nature rather than helical or otherwise. A single ribbed version of a profiled ring 16 is shown in figure 15.

The spigot 8 may comprises of a channel or channels into or with which the rib or ribs are able to register.

Shown in Figure 8 is a spigot 8 with an annular channel set out from the ducting locus, such channel being shown as channel 11 that is inwardly directed and annular rib 12 set out less than the channel 11 and an annular set out rebate (but it could be a channel) 13 out from that annular rib 12.

It is believed that the present invention provides industry with a useful alternative to existing apparatus and methodologies.

Figures 13 through 16 as described show a single annular rib adapted to be received by a complementary profile. Each rib is analogously made to the twin rib form already described.

Similar set outs 17 exist for the single annular rib inter engagement as for the double annular rib inter engagement previously described.

Figures 17 through 20 show in a similar style to Figures 13 to 16 a double annular rib series of drawings. Irrespective of whether or not the annular connector is single ribbed at one end or double ribbed, or as a hybrid of both, persons skilled in the art will appreciate how the system works.

Figures 21 through 24 shows a preferred form of the spigot. It can be of a metal (steel or SS) plastic or a combination of materials. This form has an in-turned region 23 thus meaning that the inwardly directed ridge 24 separates two complete annular retention grooves 25 and 26.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate how with the provision of a substantial flushness, there is little in the way of collection areas for particulate materials such as food powders. These should be easily dislodged by regular cleaning without disassembly in conjunction with possible vibrational nature of the structure. Periodic removals of the connector are easy as there is no encircling hose clamp to remove and replace. Removal and replacement is simple.

The arrangement as described provides for good hygiene because the design ensures a tight fit, little or no crevices, little or no build up of product and prevents leakage of materials from the bag during filling. Furthermore the arrangement is less susceptible to damage as no hose clips needed to secure to the equipment and no tools are needed and hence there is no damage as a consequence.

The connector is able to be interchanged quickly from the equipment. This means that if a new connector is required to be used because of damage or wear on the previous connector, this can be done easily, quickly and without the need to use tools. The old connector can be snapped out and the replacement can be snapped in.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.