Abstract:
A method for introducing a bittering agent into an aerosol container. The method can include the steps of: adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container, positioning a valve on the container, crimping the valve to the container, and adding an aerosol propellant to the container. The method can further include the step of adding an actuator to the container. The method can further include the step of testing the container in a bath. The steps of adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container and positioning a valve on the container can be performed by an automated device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/891,426, filed on Feb. 23, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for introducing chemical agents into aerosol containers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Liquefied-gas aerosol dusters provide a safe, useful, convenient, and economically efficient means of cleaning dust and debris from hard to reach places, where it can be harmful or detrimental. This can be especially true for the multitude of electronic equipment used today, where small foreign particles can render expensive equipment inoperable or shorten its useful life. These aerosol dusters provide an easily available source of pressurized gas that can be used to remove such debris. Packaged in appropriately designed aerosol cans, the liquefied gas and aerosol package components can be chosen so as to deliver a pressurized burst of gas in a preferred cleaning pattern. The aerosol valve and actuator can be configured to deliver the appropriate amount of gas at the right pressure in a range from broad to pinpoint spray patterns. Using liquefied gases provides an ample supply of material for a large number of cleaning tasks in a compact package. 
         [0004]    Manufacturers and suppliers of these products expend significant resources and energy toward good product stewardship with goals of providing products that are safe when used as intended. Thus, these duster products provide a safe and valuable function to the consumer, but sometimes are involved in inhalation abuse incidents, like numerous other consumer products. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a liquefied-gas aerosol dusting composition with a bittering additive agent (also referred to herein as a bittering agent, or bitterant) that does not interfere with normal product use but is detectable in an inhalation abusive scenario so as to potentially discourage the practice. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a system and method for successfully adding bittering agents to an aerosol container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The above-described problems are addressed and a technical solution is achieved in the art by systems and methods for introducing a chemical agent into a container. 
         [0007]    Beneficially, a dosing module, valve module and crimping module are all included on a single, automated apparatus. Because of this orientation, the time from when the bittering agent is added to the container, until a valve is placed on the container and subsequently crimped, is relatively short. For this reason, there is relatively little time when the bittering agent is exposed to the ambient environment. The bittering agent, by its nature, has a unsavory aroma and/or taste, and minimizing such exposure reduces the unwanted introduction of bittering agent to facility workers and the general facility environment. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide for an efficient system and method for adding a bittering agent to aerosol containers. 
         [0008]    Embodiments can include a method for introducing a bittering agent into an aerosol container. The method can include the steps of: adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container, positioning a valve on the container, crimping the valve to the container, and adding an aerosol propellant to the container. The method can further include the step of adding an actuator to the container. The method can further include the step of testing the container in a bath. The steps of adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container, positioning a valve on the container and crimping the valve onto the container can be performed by an automated device. 
         [0009]    The time interval between adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container and positioning a valve on the container can be in the range of about 1 to 5 seconds. 
         [0010]    A distance that the container travels between the steps of adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container and positioning a valve on the container can be in the range of about 2 to 16 inches. 
         [0011]    Embodiments can include an apparatus for introducing a bittering agent into an aerosol container. The apparatus can include a turntable for positioning the container, a dosing module for adding a dose of the bittering agent in the container when the turntable positions the container proximate the dosing module, a valve module for positioning a valve on the container when the turntable positions the container proximate the valve module, and a crimping module for crimping the valve to the container when the turntable positions the container proximate the valve module. 
         [0012]    The time interval between when the container is positioned proximate the dosing module and when the container is positioned proximate the valve module can be in the range of about 1 to 5 seconds. 
         [0013]    A distance between where the container is positioned proximate the dosing module and where the container is positioned proximate the valve module can be in the range of about 2 to 16 inches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments presented below considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram illustrating certain embodiments of a method of adding a bittering agent to a container; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for implementing the method shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion of system for implementing the method shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed view of the portion of the system shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion of system for implementing the method shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0020]    It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and may not be to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for introducing a chemical agent into a container. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, a method for adding a bittering agent to an aerosol container can include depositing a dose of bittering agent into a container (step S 10 ), adding a valve to the container (step S 12 ), and crimping the valve to the container (step S 14 ). 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a system, shown in schematic form, in accordance with some embodiments can be used to perform the above-described method. A dose module  220  can be used to add a dose of a bittering agent into a container  210 . Next, a valve module  230  can position a valve on the container  210 . A crimp module  240  can crimp the valve to the container  210 . A propellant module  250  can be used to add propellant to the container  210 . The container  210  can be tested in a bath module  260 . Finally, an actuator can be placed on the container  210  by the actuator module  270 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an embodiment is shown in more detailed schematic form. Dose module  220  can include a dispenser and a syringe  222 , coupled by an air line. The dispenser  224  causes a bitterent placed in the syringe  222  to be added to the container  210  in a relatively precisely determined amount. In some embodiments, dispenser  224  can be triggered, via, for example, switches, to initiate the addition of the dose of bitterent when container  210  is in a predetermined position. Whether container  210  is in a predetermined position for dosing can be signaled by position sensor mechanism  226 , which can include a combination of one or more limit switches, spring return cylinder switches, and track switches. In some embodiments, portions of the position sensor mechanism  226 , as well as the dispenser  224 , can operate with the use of air system. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, dose module  224  can include two dispensers  224 , two syringes  222  and two position sensor mechanisms  226  such that two containers can be dosed with bitterent simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a top partial schematic view of an embodiment of a system as described above. Containers  221  are positioned on turntable module  300 . Dispensers  224  initiate the dosing of bitterent from syringes  222 . The turntable then indexes the containers  221  to the valve placer module  230 , where a valve is positioned on each of containers  221 . Next, the turntable module  300  indexes the containers to a position proximate the crimper module  240 . At the crimper module  240 , the valves can be crimped to the containers  221 . 
         [0027]    Thus, the syringe  222  of dosing module  220 , valve placer module  230  and crimper module  240  are all included on a single, automated apparatus. Because of this orientation, the time from when the bittering agent is added to the container  221 , until a valve is placed on the container and subsequently crimped, is relatively short. For this reason, there is relatively little time when the bittering agent is exposed to the ambient environment. The bittering agent, by its nature, has an unsavory aroma and/or taste, and minimizing such exposure reduces the unwanted introduction of bittering agent to facility workers and the general facility environment. 
         [0028]    Specifically, with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , time T 1  (the time from when the container  221  is at the dosing module  220  to when the container is at the valve placer module  230 ) can preferably be in the range of 1 to 5 seconds, more preferably in the range of 1 to 3 seconds, and most preferably, about 2.5 seconds. Time T 2  (the time from when the container  221  is at the dosing module  220  to when the container is at the crimper module  240 ) can preferably be in the range of 4 to 10 seconds, more preferably in the range of 6 to 8 seconds, and most preferably, about 7 seconds. In other embodiments, other times can be used. 
         [0029]    Distance D 1  (the distance between when the container  221  is at the dosing module  220  to when the container is at the valve placer module  230 ) can preferably be in the range of 2 to 16 inches, more preferably in the range of 4 to 8 inches, and most preferably, about 6.25 inches. Distance D 2  (the distance between when the container  221  is at the dosing module  220  to when the container is at the crimper module  240 ) can preferably be in the range of 5 to 11 inches, more preferably in the range of 7 to 9 inches, and most preferably, about 8.75 inches. In other embodiments, other distances can be used. These distances are measured along the generally arcuate path traveled by the containers while moving about the turntable. 
         [0030]    Container  221  can be made of tinplate, aluminum, glass, or other materials as is known to those of skill in the art. The bittering agent can be denatonium benzoate, or other bittering agents, as are known to those of skill in the art. The propellant can be a liquefied gas, for use with aerosol spray containers, as is known to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, a liquefied aerosol dusting composition can be used, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/895,070, filed on Aug. 22, 2007, and titled “A liquefied-gas Aerosol Dusting Composition Containing Denatonium Benzoate,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the dispenser  224  of dose module  220  can be an Ultra 2400 workstation dispenser, as produced by EFD Inc., of East Providence, R.I. As is known to those of skill in the art, the Ultra 2400 workstation includes a digital display, an air management system, and precision time increment adjustment capabilities for precise dose deposit controls. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, turntable  300  can use a rotary index mechanism and aerosol filling system as provided by Terco Inc., of Bloomington, Ill. 
         [0033]    By way of sensor mechanism  226  (see  FIG. 4 ), the dispenser  224  and turntable  300  have been coupled such that dispenser  224  works cooperatively and automatically with turntable  300 . By way of embodiments of the invention, actuation of the EFD fluid dispenser  221  is coupled to the position of container  221 , thus minimizing the possibility of accidental discharge of bitterant from syringe  222 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , optionally, as is known in the art, a propellant can be added to the container (step S 16 ). Next, the container can be tested in a bath (step S 18 ), and, an actuator can be added to the container (step S 20 ). 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.