Automated system and process for the preparation of a high viscosity fluid formulation
AssigneeRohm and Haas Company
InventorsMichael William Linsen, Mark Richard Schure, Kristin Weidemaier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated fluid formulating system for use in small scale laboratory operations. The system utilizes a computer to provide precise control over the measurement of ingredients and the entire formulating process. The novel feature of this invention is that it can provide precise control over the formulating of high viscosity, high solid fluids, such as emulsions and gels. Further, a pre-programmed cleaning cycle can be input into the computer to automatically clean the mixing elements so that the mixing elements do not contaminate subsequent formulations with materials from the prior formulation.
Claims8
1) A system for preparing a fluid formulation, wherein said fluid formulation is selected from the group consisting of emulsion, gel and colloidal fluids, comprising:
- a plurality of flexible conduits, each having an inlet end and an outlet end, said plurality of flexible conduits operatively disposed within at least one of a plurality of pump means,
- each inlet end of said plurality of flexible conduits disposed within one of a plurality of storage vessels, said storage vessels each containing a different liquid fluid formulation precursor ingredient,
- the outlet ends of said plurality of flexible conduits disposed to deliver each of the precursor ingredients into a mixing vessel,
- the at least one of the plurality of pump means situated between the storage vessels and the mixing vessel in order to transport an amount of each of the precursor ingredients from its respective storage vessel through its respective flexible conduit into the mixing vessel,
- a plurality of flow restrictors in operative communication with each of the plurality of flexible conduits to independently regulate the amount of each of the precursor ingredients being delivered to the mixing vessel,
- means for mixing the combined precursor ingredients into the fluid formulation within the mixing vessel,
- cleaning means located adjacent the mixing means, and
- a computer in operative communication with said pump means, said plurality of flow restrictors and said mixing means.
5) An automated process for making a fluid formulation, wherein said fluid formulation is selected from the group consisting of emulsion, gel and colloidal fluids, comprising the steps of:
- inputting a fluid formulation recipe into the database of a computer, wherein said computer controls the automated process for making the fluid formulation, and wherein said recipe lists all of the precursor ingredients and process steps necessary to make the fluid formulation, wherein the recipe also comprises at least one of a plurality of desired physical property values of the fluid formulation,
- delivering a plurality of fluid formulation precursor ingredients to a mixing vessel in accordance with the directions provided by the computer, wherein each of said plurality of precursor ingredients traverses through one of a plurality of flexible conduits, said precursor ingredients being urged toward the mixing vessel via the action of a pump means,
- mixing the precursor ingredients in the mixing vessel by mixing means to generate a fluid formulation,
- stopping the automated process as directed by the computer when all of the precursor ingredients required by the recipe have been added to the mixing vessel and all of the mixing process steps included in the recipe have been performed, and
- removing the mixing means from the mixing vessel, conveying said mixing means to and inserting it into a cleaning vessel located in near proximity to the mixing vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.