Aseptic connector for a free-flowing food

摘要

A reusable aseptic connector is provided. The connector may be used to provide fluid communication between a bag-in-box (BIB) container and a beverage dispenser. The connector may provide aseptic properties of the connection by insulation of an inner volume of a first part and an inner volume of a second part, with the beverage component kept from contacting any of the part of the connector structure that are exposed to the environment and have a risk of induced contamination. The connector may comprise a resilient membrane and a sliding tube wherein the sliding tube is configured to have a portion move toward and through the resilient membrane to establish fluid communication between the first part and the second part, and for the portion to move away from the resilient membrane to destablish fluid communication between the first part and the second part when desired.

主权项

1. A reusable aseptic connector comprising:
a first part, and a second part, the first part defining an inner volume, the inner volume having a first end and a second end, the first part comprising a ball valve, the ball valve having an initial position that seals the first end of the inner volume, the ball valve defining a channel, the first part comprising a first bayonet mounting member, and the second part comprising a resilient member and a sliding tube, the sliding tube defining an inner volume, the sliding tube having a first end and second end, the first end of the sliding tube defining a first opening, the second end of the sliding tube defining a second opening, the resilient member providing an aseptic seal of the first opening of the sliding tube when the sliding tube is in an initial position, the second part comprising a second bayonet mounting member, the first bayonet mounting member of the first part forming an aseptic seal with the second bayonet mounting member when joined together, the ball valve configured to be rotated from its initial position so that the channel defined by the ball valve is positioned coaxially with the sliding tube of the second part, the sliding tube configured to move from the initial position to an operative position when the sliding tube is moved in a direction toward the first part so that the first end of the sliding tube penetrates the resilient member and then enters the channel defined by the ball valve.