Flexible packaging for temperature sensitive materials

Systems and methods for a flexible container for transport and storage of a working material are described herein. The material can be a viscous or liquid material when dispensed. The flexible container can be configured to move between a first shape and a second shape. The first shape can allow for efficient transport of the flexible container while the second shape can allow for the flexible container to couple to a dispenser. In certain examples, the flexible container can be cooled for transport and heated for dispensing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to materials packaging and, more specifically, to materials packaging for temperature sensitive materials for use with an applicator.

BACKGROUND

Aircrafts use a variety of sealants, adhesives, and other materials during assembly. Such materials can be extruded from applicators. Typically, the materials are packaged in containers or bags and coupled to the applicator. Such containers are typically bags that are generally cylindrical in nature and not very space efficient.

Furthermore, the sealants, adhesives, and other materials can be temperature sensitive. Higher temperatures can accelerate the rate of curing of such sealants, adhesives, and other materials. As such, the materials are typically transported frozen. However, they must be thawed before application. The time to thaw such materials affects throughput of aircraft assembly and fabrication.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are disclosed for a method for processing a material. The method can include disposing a flexible container between at least two substantially parallel surfaces, coupling a port of the flexible container to a material fill mechanism, providing the material into the flexible container with the material fill mechanism, and freezing the material within the flexible container.

In another example, a flexible container can be disclosed. The flexible container can include a substantially planar container body including a first side and a second side, a port disposed on the container body and configured to receive a nozzle, and a check valve disposed within the port and configured to allow material to flow into the container body and prevent material from flowing out of the container body. The container body is configured to rest in a first position and a second position where container body in the first position is in a substantially planar shape, and where the container body in the second position is in a substantially tubular shape.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of the disclosure will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more implementations. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples of systems and techniques for transporting material are described herein. The systems can include a flexible container. The flexible container can include a substantially planar container body. The container body can include a first side and a second side. The container body can be configured to be stored in either a first position or a second position. In the first position, the container body is a substantially planar shape. In the second position, the container body is a substantially tubular shape. The container body can be of various dimensions and various shapes for a desired implementation and application. For instance, in the first position, the container body can be of various substantially planar shapes, such as a substantially square shape, a substantially rectangular shape, and so forth.

Additionally, the flexible container can include a port disposed on the container body and configured to receive a nozzle and a check valve disposed within the port and configured to allow material to flow into the container body and prevent material from flowing out of the container body.

In another example, a method can be described. The method can include disposing a flexible container between at least two substantially parallel surfaces, coupling a port of the flexible container to a material fill mechanism, providing the material into the flexible container with the material fill mechanism, and freezing the material within the flexible container.

The materials described herein can be processing materials and other viscous or liquid materials, such as aerospace fluids. Such materials can include adhesives, sealants, catalysts, and other such materials used during manufacturing. Certain such materials can have extended shelf lives or processing times if they are transported in certain temperature states such as in an ambient or heated state. The systems and techniques described herein allow for more efficient transport of such materials in a non-ambient state.

In certain examples, the materials can be filled and transported in a first state and dispensed in a second state. The container can be a first shape in the first state and a second shape in the second state. The first shape can improve the speed at which the materials are returned to the second state. The second shape can be configured to interface with an applicator to dispense the materials.

In this regard, a size of the first shape along each dimension of a three-dimensional space may be defined, dependent on implementation and application, to achieve a desired speed at which the materials are returned to the second state and an amount of the materials that can be provided in the container (e.g., the container's capacity). Similarly, a size of the second shape along each dimension of a three-dimensional space may be defined, dependent on implementation and application, to facilitate dispensing of the material.

FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate examples of flexible containers in accordance with examples of the disclosure.FIG. 1Aillustrates a flexible container100in a first shape.FIG. 1Billustrates flexible container100in a second shape.

Flexible container100includes a flexible body102that includes a first side104A, a second side104B, and a middle section104C. Additionally, a port106is disposed on flexible body102. Port106can be configured to receive a nozzle. The nozzle can provide the material to flexible container100via port106.

Port106can additionally include a check valve108. Check valve108is disposed within port106. Check valve108can be configured to allow material to flow in a first direction and prevent material from flowing in a second direction. Thus, the check valve108can be configured to prevent material from flowing through port106when port106is not coupled to an additional mechanism such as a nozzle.

First side104A and second side104B can be coupled through middle section104C. First side104A and second side104B are each a flexible portion. Such coupling of first side104A and second side104B through middle section104C forms flexible container100. First side104A and second side104B can be substantially flat and planar. Middle section104C can connect the first side104A and the second side104B. In certain examples, first side104A, second side104B, and/or middle section104C can be configured (e.g., pre-tensioned) to position flexible body102into the first shape, second shape, or both. Thus, for example, first side104A, second side104B, and/or middle section104C can include pre-tensioned elastic bands that will move flexible body102from the first shape to the second shape when a force greater than a threshold force (e.g., a force rolling up flexible body102) is received. In certain examples, another one of first side104A, second side104B, and/or middle section104C can be configured to move flexible body102from the second shape to the first shape when a force greater than a threshold force, whether of the same magnitude or a different magnitude, is received.

In certain examples, flexible body102is configured to be disposed in a plurality of different configurations. For example, flexible body102can be disposed in a substantially planar first shape as shown inFIG. 1Aand a substantially cylindrical second shape as shown inFIG. 1B. The first shape can be a substantially planar shape. As such, flexible body102is substantially flat when in the first shape (e.g., first side104A and second side104B can be within 10% of parallel). The flexible body102can be of various dimensions and various shapes (e.g., substantially square, substantially rectangular, etc. in the first shape) for a desired implementation and application.

Current techniques typically transport materials within sausage tubes or other cylindrical containers. Transport within such tubes or cylindrical containers can often be inefficient as there are open space between the objects. Meanwhile, the flexible container100(e.g., substantially planar or flat flexible container) can be stacked. Thus, for example, a plurality of flexible containers100can be stacked on top of each other. Such stacking allows for simplified transport and handling of a shipment of flexible containers100.

Additionally, current tubes or cylindrical containers have a poor volume to surface area ratio (e.g., the ratio can be high as the volume is much greater than the surface area). Such a poor ratio can increase heating and cooling times. Thus, for example, a tube or cylindrical container can be filled with a fluid at a first temperature, stored at a second temperature, but dispensed at a third temperature. The poor ratio can lead to longer transition times between the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature. The longer times can negatively affect throughput.

By contrast, the flexible container100has a better (e.g., lower) volume to surface area ratio due to flexible container100having a larger exposed surface area. Such an improved volume to surface area ratio can decrease the amount of time required to transition between the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature. Additionally, the substantially planar first shape of flexible container100can allow for simplified placement of flexible container100on a heating or cooling pad or other surface, further decreasing heating or cooling times.

Furthermore, flexible container100can be configured to interface with existing applicators. As such, in the second shape, flexible container100can be rolled into a substantially cylindrical shape. Flexible container100in the substantially cylindrical shape can be coupled to existing applicators configured to receive substantially cylindrical containers. Thus, for example, flexible container100can couple to a nozzle or other receiver of an applicator through port106or through a puncture created by a user or the applicator.

While in the substantially cylindrical shape, flexible container100can still include an improved volume to surface area ratio as compared to conventional containers. Thus, even in the second shape, flexible container100can be heated or cooled quicker than conventional containers.

FIG. 2illustrates an exploded side view of a flexible container in accordance with an example of the disclosure.FIG. 2illustrates an exploded view of flexible container100that includes first side104A, second side104B, and/or middle section104C as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B.FIG. 2shows an example of flexible container100that can be configured to provide self heating and/or cooling.

As shown inFIG. 2, first side104A includes a top side110(e.g., an outer layer), a bottom side112(e.g., an inner layer), temperature control elements114(e.g., thermal elements), controller116, and electrical coupling118(e.g., power connection). Second side104B includes top side120, bottom side122, temperature control elements124, and controller126. As such, both first side104A and second side104E can be configured to provide heating or cooling to flexible container100and, thus, the material disposed within flexible container100. In certain examples, the material can be disposed between first side104A and second side104B within, for example, middle section104C.

Temperature control element114(e.g., thermal element) is disposed between top side110(e.g., outer layer) and bottom side112(e.g., inner layer). Temperature control element124(e.g., thermal element) is disposed between top side120and bottom side122. Thus, temperature control elements114and124can be disposed within a cavity defined by top sides110and120, respectively, on one side and by bottom sides112and122, respectively, on another side.

One or more of top sides110and120and bottom sides112and122can be made of a material that can conduct heat. In one example, a thermal conductivity of bottom side112is greater than a thermal conductivity of top side110, or vice versa. Thus, the heating and/or cooling of temperature control elements114and/or124can be conducted by top sides110and120and bottom sides112and122to the materials contained within flexible container100. In this regard, the temperature control elements114and/or124may be operated when one container body is in contact with another container body. The temperature control elements114and/or124may be operated in response to conduction between the container bodies due to the contact.

Temperature control elements114and124are powered by electrical coupling118(e.g., power connection). Electrical coupling118can be a wired or wireless connection configured to receive power from an external source. In certain examples, temperature control elements114and124can each have their own electrical couplings, but the example shown inFIG. 2illustrates a shared electrical coupling118for both temperature control elements114and124.

Operation of temperature control elements114/124can be controlled by controllers116/126, respectively. Controller116/126can include, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a signal processing device, a memory storage device, and/or any additional devices to perform any of the various operations described herein. In various examples, controllers116/126and/or its associated operations can be implemented as a single device or multiple connected devices to collectively constitute controllers116/126.

Controllers116/126can include one or more memory components or devices to store data and information. The memory can include volatile and non-volatile memory. Examples of such memory include RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Read-Only Memory), flash memory, or other types of memory. In certain examples, controllers116/126can be adapted to execute instructions stored within the memory to perform various methods and processes described herein, including implementation and execution of control algorithms responsive to heating or cooling of the materials scored by flexible container100.

In various examples, controllers116/126can cause temperature control elements114/124to increase or decrease in temperature (and, thus, provide heating or cooling to the material contained within flexible container100). Such increase or decrease in temperature can be in response to a user input (e.g., an input received through a pressing of a button), through a position of flexible container100sensed by temperature control elements114/124(e.g., when flexible container100is in the second shape, temperature control elements114/124can provide cooling while when flexible container100is in the first shape, temperature control elements114/124can provide heating), through detection of a nozzle inserted into port106, or through another such condition causing operation of temperature control elements114/124.

FIG. 3illustrates a side view of a stack of flexible containers in accordance with an example of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, five flexible containers100A-E are each disposed in the first shape. Thus, flexible containers100A-E are flat. Flexible containers100A-E in the first shape are stacked on top of each other. Such a configuration allows for more space efficient packing and shipping of flexible containers100A-E.

FIG. 4illustrates a side view of an applicator in accordance with an example of the disclosure.FIG. 4illustrates a material applicator system200that includes flexible container100and applicator202. Applicator202can be any applicator configured to dispense the material. Thus, in certain examples, applicator202can be an applicator gun configured to receive the material from flexible container100. Applicator202can thus be, for example, a dispenser such as a 3M 600A or Semco 250-A applicator gun.

Applicator202can include an inlet configured to couple with port106of flexible container100. Port106can thus receive an inlet of applicator202, such as a hose, for applicator202to dispense the material within flexible container100.

FIG. 5is a flowchart detailing a technique for transporting and applying the material in accordance with an example of the disclosure. In block502, a flexible container is disposed on a fill surface or within an area that would allow for the flexible container to be filled. In certain examples, the flexible container can be disposed between two substantially parallel surfaces so that, when the flexible container is filled with the material, the flexible container is in the first shape.

In block504, the flexible container can be coupled to a fill mechanism. Thus, the port of the flexible container can receive a nozzle or another fill mechanism. The flexible container can then be filled with the material (e.g., through the fill mechanism) in block506.

After being filled with the material, the material within the flexible container can be cooled or frozen in block508. The material can be cooled or frozen by placing the flexible container within a cooler (e.g., a freezer) or by causing (e.g., by providing power to) temperature control elements of the flexible container to provide cooling. In certain examples, the surface that the flexible container is disposed on can be heated and/or cooled during or after the material has been provided to the flexible container. As such, the material within the flexible container can be cooled for transport. The material can then accordingly be stacked and transported.

After the material has been transported and has arrived at its destination, the material can then be thawed and brought to a temperature appropriate for dispensing in block510. Thus, the material can be heated by placing the flexible container within a heated area, within an ambient temperature area, on a heated surface, or by causing (e.g., by providing power to) temperature control elements of the flexible container to provide heating.

The flexible container can then be rolled or otherwise moved into an appropriate shape in block512. After the flexible container has been rolled or moved into the appropriate shape, the flexible container can be coupled to the dispenser in block514. Thus, a port of the flexible container can be coupled to a nozzle of the dispenser. The material can then flow into the dispenser to be extruded onto a surface.