Container and method for the mixing of media

Abstract

Container and method for the mixing of media, in particular as a disposable container, which has at least one closable opening for the introduction and/or removal of the media and has a first sensor for measurement of at least one parameter of the mixture, in which at least one second sensor for measurement of the same parameter is arranged at a distance from the first sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a flexible disposable container with sensors and with a process control device;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a mixing process;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a sensor mount for attachment of a sensor, in which a clamping part can be latched to a central piece, in the form of a section;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a sensor mount for attachment of a sensor, in which a clamping part can be screwed to a central piece, in the form of a section;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a sensor mount for attachment of a sensor, in which the clamping part and the central piece can be latched and have clamping projections;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a sensor mount for attachment of a sensor having an optical sensor and an optical signal line, in the form of a section;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a sensor mount for attachment of a sensor, which has a transmitting unit which is connected to the sensor, in the form of a section; and

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a further sensor mount for attachment of a sensor having a sensor mount which has a transmitting unit which is connected to the sensor and whose central piece is surrounded in an interlocking manner by a bulge on the container wall.

Claims

1. Container (1) for the mixing of media, in particular as a disposable container, which has at least one closable opening (2, 3, 4) for the introduction and/or removal of the media and has a first sensor (5) for measurement of at least one parameter of the mixture, characterized in that at least one second sensor (6) for measurement of the same parameter is arranged at a distance from the first sensor (5).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (1) is in the form of a sterilized, flexible bag.

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the first (5) of the at least two sensors (5, 6, 7, 8) is located in the area of one third (9) of the container (1) which is located furthest away from the opening (3) for the introduction of the media, and the second sensor (6) is located in the area of one third (11) of the container (1) in which the opening (3) for introduction of the media is located.

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that a third (7) or further sensors (8) for measurement of the same parameter is or are arranged at a distance from the first sensor (5) and the second sensor (6).

5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that one (6) of the sensors (5, 6, 7, 8) is arranged in the area of that third (11) of the container (1) in which a stirrer (13) is arranged, and at least one of the sensors (5, 7) is arranged in the area of that third (9) of the container (1) which is furthest away from the stirrer (13).

6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that one (8) of the sensors (5, 6, 7, 8) is arranged in a central third (12) of the container (1).

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that a greater number of sensors (5, 7, 8) are arranged in areas in which flow with little turbulence can be expected during correct use than in areas in which the flow can be expected to be highly turbulent.

8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that sensors (5, 6, 7, 8) are provided at least for measurement of the pH value and/or of the conductivity and/or of the temperature.

9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensors (5, 5′) are attached to the container wall (17) via a sensor mount (511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516) which rests at least with a rearward surface element (518) or rear surface (519) which faces away from the sensor (5, 5′) on the inner wall (10) of the container wall (17).

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor mount (511, 512, 513, 514) has a central piece (510, 521) which is passed through an opening (522) in the container wall (17) and is fixed to the container wall (17) by a clamping part (523, 524, 525) which can be connected to the central piece (510, 521), with the container wall (17) being clamped between a rearward surface element (518) of the sensor mount (511, 512, 513, 514) and on a contact surface (526) of the clamping part (523, 524, 525) which faces an outer wall (18) of the container (1), and in that the rearward surface element (518) rests against the inner wall (10) of the container wall (17) forming a seal.

11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the clamping part (523, 525) can be latched to the central piece (521).

12. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping part (524) can be screwed to the central piece (510).

13. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the rearward surface element (518) has one or more clamping projections (531) which engage in the container wall (17) transversely with respect to the container wall (17).

14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the contact surface (526) of the clamping part (525) has one or more clamping projections (530) which engage in the container wall (17) transversely with respect to the container wall (17).

15. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the clamping projections (530, 531) are in the form of annular webs.

16. Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the clamping projections (530, 531) on the sensor mount (513) and on the clamping part (525) are matched to one another.

17. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that an electrical (533) or optical (532) connection from the sensor (5, 5′) to sensor electronics or a control unit (14) outside the container (1) is passed through the central piece (510, 521) of the sensor mount (511, 512, 513, 514).

18. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor mount (515, 516) has an electronic or optical transmitting unit (536) which is connected to the sensor (5′), and in that the transmitting unit (536) communicates without the use of wires with a receiving unit (538) which is arranged outside the container (1).

19. Container according to claim 18, characterized in that the sensor mount (516) has a central piece (541) on its rear surface (519), which central piece (541) is surrounded in an interlocking manner by a bulge (542) on the container wall (17).

20. Method for the mixing of media in a container (1), in particular a disposable container, in which at least one medium is introduced and mixed with at least one further medium, in which case parameters of the mixture can be measured by means of a sensor (5, 6, 7, 8), comprising the following steps: a) introduction of the at least one medium into the container (1);b) introduction of the further medium into the container (1) while at the same time mixing the media in the container (1) to form a mixture;c) measurement of values of at least one identical parameter of the mixture by means of at least two sensors (5, 6, 7, 8) which are separated from one another;d) comparison of the values measured in step c) with an intended value, which is preselected for that mixture, of the identical parameter;e) interruption of the introduction of the further medium in step b) with the mixing process being continued, when the comparison in step d) shows that one of the measured values corresponds at least to the preselected intended value;f) repetition of steps c) and d);g) continuation of the introduction of the further medium in accordance with step b) if the comparison in step d) shows that all of the measured values are below the preselected intended value; andh) ending of step b) when the comparison in step d) shows that all of the measured values correspond to the preselected intended value.

21. Method according to claim 20, in which in step e) the introduction process is interrupted only when the comparison in step d) shows that one of the measured values has reached a permissible difference magnitude which is above the preselected intended value.