Flow control apparatus for use in dispensing fluent material

Abstract

A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags comprises first, second, and third platens mounted on a frame for movement relative to each other. The first and second platens are adapted to receive portions a flexible bag therebetween, and the first and third platens are adapted to receive portions of a flexible bag therebetween. The first platen is movable between a first position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a first space for containing the bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a second smaller space for containing the bag portions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising: 
 a frame;    a first platen mounted on the frame;    a second platen mounted on the frame;    a third platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween, and the first and third platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween, the first, second and third platens being mounted for movement relative to each other, the first platen being movable between a first position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens and the first and third platens each define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space.    
     
     
         2 . A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising: 
 a frame;    a first platen mounted on the frame;    a second platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween and for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space;    the first platen comprising multiple first platen elements each being mounted for movement relative to the other first platen elements and relative to the second platen between said first and second positions, the second platen and each of the first platen elements being adapted to receive a respective one of said bag portions.    
     
     
         3 . A flow control for use with flexible bags to push fluent material from the bags by deformation of the bags, the flow control comprising: 
 a frame;    a first platen mounted on the frame;    a second platen mounted on the frame, the first and second platens being adapted to receive portions of at least one of the flexible bags therebetween and for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second platens define a first space for containing said bag portions and a second position in which the first and second platens define a second space for containing said bag portions, said second space being smaller than said first space;    the first and second platens each have grooves therein for receiving said bag portions, the grooves of the first and second platens being arranged in pairs generally in registration in the first position of the first and second platens and at least partially out of registration in the second position, the volume of the grooves of at least one groove pair being different than the volume of the grooves of at least one of the other groove pairs for dispensing a different quantity of the fluent material.    
     
     
         4 . A flow control as set forth in  claim 3  wherein at least two groove pairs have different widths.  
     
     
         5 . A flow control as set forth in  claim 4  wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.  
     
     
         6 . A flow control as set forth in  claim 3  wherein at least two groove pairs have different lengths.