Method of manufacturing a product dispensing system

Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a dispensing system for dispensing a product from a canister, comprising a solid/gas arrangement in which the gas is adsorbed onto the solid under pressure and desorbed therefrom when the pressure is released and in which the solid comprises activated carbon and the gas comprises at least one of nitrogen, oxygen or mixtures thereof including air, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and argon, the canister having valve means to allow the gas adsorbed onto the carbon to be desorbed for generating a pressure in the canister and effect product dispense, the activated carbon is held from the time of its production up to its installation in the canister under a blanketing gas atmosphere which does not prevent the gas to be adsorbed from occupying the adsorption sites of the activated carbon in the canister.

What s claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a dispensing system for dispensing a product from a canister, comprising a solid/gas arrangement in which the gas is adsorbed onto the solid under pressure and desorbed therefrom when the pressure is released and in which the solid comprises activated carbon and the gas comprises at least one of nitrogen, oxygen or mixtures thereof including air, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and argon, the canister having valve means to allow the gas adsorbed onto the carbon to be desorbed for generating a pressure in the canister and effect product dispense, said method comprising the step of holding the activated carbon from the time of its production up to its installation in the canister under a blanketing gas atmosphere which does not prevent the gas to be adsorbed from occupying the adsorption sites of the activated carbon in the canister. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blanketing gas comprises one of carbon dioxide, helium and hydrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent gas comprises carbon dioxide and the blanketing gas comprises also carbon dioxide held under gas pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is pre-treated with adsorbed gas prior to, or during, its introduction into the canister 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing system for the method as defied in  claim 1 , including a canister with individual solid/gas compartments wherein the product and the solid/gas arrangement of the dispensing system are present in the canister in different solid/ as compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the different compartments are separated by a fixed partition. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system according to  claim 6 , wherein the different compartments are solid/gas and product compartments divided by a partition and a one-way valve is disposed in the partition for controlling the flow of gas from the solid/gas compartment into the product compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein a one-way valve is arranged in the carbon container to prevent back flow of the gas from the solid/gas compartment in order to allow the introduction of carbon dioxide into the solid/gas compartment and retain it therein prior to, and during, use of the system. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the product of and the solid/gas arrangement of the dispensing system are present in the canister in individual compartments, which are separated by a displaceable partition impermeable to the gas. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the canister includes a dispensing block and the carbon canister and the dispensing block are an integrally formed unit.