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CLASS 141,	FLUENT MATERIAL HANDLING, WITH RECEIVER OR RECEIVER COACTING MEANS
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SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER

This class provides for the transfer of fluent material, gaseous, liquid or flowable granular solids, through a flow confining system, the source and terminal or receiver parts of which are normally separable, i.e., one or both parts are portable or are otherwise capable of or intended to have a utility in their separated condition. Such utility ordinarily lies in portability of a separated part, either for use of the contents material in another place, or for use of one of the system parts with another complementary part. Each part therefore must comprise an entity capable of use independent of the other, and together the parts provide a flow path from a source or dispenser to a terminal part or receiver, thereby comprising a filling system.

This class takes a mere dispenser-receiver combination where separability is claimed or is inherent, and also takes means to deliver material to a receiver when there is claimed some system characteristic which peculiarly relates the receiver to the dispenser to define a coaction of one with the other to complete the dispenser-receiver relationship; as for example, guiding or confining means for the receiver, related conveying means for either the receiver or dispenser or both, or a receiver support which is not merely a support for the dispenser but is some member or modification beyond the structural requirements therefor.

The scope of this class does not include method and apparatus for handling fluent material except in a manner characteristic of fluid flow. For the most part the material supply processes and apparatus involve discharge assistants and fluid flow guiding means of the class of Dispensing (see References to Other Classes, below).

This class takes systems as above defined including receivers which close (i.e., self-closing) upon separation or uncoupling from the supply.

This class also includes processes of varying gaseous conditions in a vessel or container, i.e., evacuating or maintaining a vacuum in a container, by sorption or gettering means incased in such container where the claims are silent respecting any sealing off, or do not include steps of closing and additionally where the sorption or gettering is not of the kind provided for elsewhere.

This class also includes certain combinations and subcombinations which appear to fall short of the receiver coacting means requirement set out above, as in the last four "first line" subclass groups of this class. Though they require no more than what might be considered to be Class 222 subject matter, the concept of a normally detached, readily connectable, dispenser-receiver relation (see I (2) above) is satisfied.

SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS

COMBINATIONS OF FILLING APPARATUS WITH TREATING OR MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

As between this class (141) and Class 53, Package Making, Class 53 takes methods of and apparatus for packaging where some manufacturing operation as to either the package or its contents material is included anywhere along the line.

Class 53 includes among other packaging inventions the following:

Chemical packaging:

The selection of materials for cover and/or lining compatible with chemical or reactive contents material for package making is considered a type of manufacture, and is included in Class 53.

Article packaging:

Methods of packaging articles and apparatus for packaging articles not however those which rely upon fluid-flow handling methods or apparatus.

Contents treating and packaging:

Methods of and apparatus for packaging with or without closing if the contents material is treated or prepared by processes or apparatus involving an irreversible operation more commonly known as manufacture.

Filling with fluent material:

Filling with fluent materials where an arrangement not obtainable by fluent material flow results. Mere compacting is not included, but the packaging of a compacted charge which is subsequently handled as an article is, and also compacting to produce a package of a definite predetermined shape.

Receiver or cover making and filling:

Methods of and apparatus for forming a cover or receiver and filling with fluent material or articles with or without closing including opening the receiver, e.g., a collapsed bag, or any covered receiver. Opening self-closing type receivers and filling with fluents is excepted. See I above.

Receiver filling and closing:

Methods of and apparatus for filling receivers with articles and/or fluent materials and closing such receivers.

Receiver filling:

Filling apparatus including additional means claimed in combination therewith having utility only in a closing or closure applying or associating function is included in Class 53, for example, relative to "jetting", such structure for supporting closure means and moving same through a jetting stream or the like with an associated filled receiver even though the step of or means for depositing the closure on the receiver is omitted, or receiver spacing or holding means after filling for cover application or a closing operation without applying the closure or closing.

TREATMENT CLASSES

As to the treatment classes, the line is whether or not there is present some handling operation other than supplying material to or removing it from the treatment area or chamber. Those patents which claim more than the handling incidental to treatment are placed in the appropriate material handling class, including this one, as they are also in many instances where the treatment device is claimed by name only, with incidental handling means and no other.

SECTION III - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

SECTION IV - GLOSSARY

CUT-OFF

The term as used in this class means some mechanically operative element or device (not gas pressure) which arrests flow of material.

CYCLICAL OPERATION

This term describes a filling system in which no operator intervention is required from the time a receiver is placed in filling position at least until the receiver is filled and ready to be removed. The flow of contents material may be cut off by a movement of the receiver which occurs in the sequence of events in the machine.

DISPENSER

A mechanism which affirmatively effects or permits separation of a portion of the contents material supply thereof and discharge in a definite direction or path.

FILLING HEAD

The portion of a dispenser or source part of the system which comprises the flow outlet or flow confining terminus and other flow confining structure which may be in advance (up-stream) of it back to the supply.

FUNNEL

A fluid handling device of increasingly restricted capacity in the direction of flow and having its free end arranged to enter into the inlet of a receiver, being ordinarily designed to collect an unconfined flow and channel it into a narrower flow path or one which is out of line with the previous path or flow direction. The material may be retained in the funnel body by valve means, and the funnel may comprise the only claimed supply means of the filling system or an intermediate or final receiver, and may be supported by either the preceding or succeeding flow confining means, or by a means external to the flow system.

MANUFACTURE

In order to draw a line with the manufacturing classes which may include filling, the term is used here as meaning an operation on material, or apparatus for operating on material, to effect a permanent or irreversible change in the physical character of the material, e.g. cutting, crushing, shaping and boring, or to arrange the parts of an article of manufacture into their desired relation, i.e., assembling.

MATERIAL GUIDE

Means other than funnels to direct material from supply to receiver without forming a flow-confining connection between them. Examples of material guides in this class are: (1) A nonflow support for contents material associated with a receiver support over which the material can be pushed or moved manually into the receiver; (2) A flow directing detachable extension of a receiver inlet which may be either tubular or channel-shaped in cross-section. If tubular and tapering, it must either engage the receiver externally or be located entirely within the receiver. Cf funnel, above; or (3) An extension of a supply container which is hand held, the extension being designed to engage the receiver and direct the flow thereto.

RECEIVER

A device which accepts the material from the dispenser and is capable of confining fluids within a predetermined or predescribed volumetric configuration, and does not therefore rely upon surface tension or molecular cohesive forces to preclude escape of material therefrom.

SUPPLY MEANS

The contents material confining means of the dispenser.

SYSTEM

The combination of dispenser and receiver in flow exchange relation with any or all appurtenances thereof.

TREATMENT

With respect to the treatment classes, treatment as here construed is concerned with reversible changes in the physical characteristics of contents material such as exemplified by agitating, heating, cooling, sorting and the like.

SUBCLASSES

1	PROCESSES:
	This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Processes. (1) Note. All patents containing method claims drawn to the method of operation of any of the systems or parts thereof involved in the class are included in this and the indented subclasses, but methods of making parts of the systems are not included. They will be found in the subclass providing for the system or part. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclasses 396+ for methods pertaining to the subject matter of that class, but including methods of this class with the additional step of closing or otherwise manipulating for the purposes of Class 53. 137,  Fluid Handling,   subclasses 1+ for processes analogous to the processes of this class but not involving the feature of separability of the system components. 222,  Dispensing,   subclass 1 for processes of dispensing.

1.1	Battery grid pasting:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes for filling battery grids or electrodes with fluent material. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 32, for the corresponding apparatus.

2	Filling dispensers:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes in which a dispenser type receiver is filled by steps involving manipulation of the dispenser as an incident to or aid to refilling or filling the supply chamber. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 18+, for apparatus for filling or refilling dispensers and involving the use of dispenser parts in connection with or as an aid to the operation of the apparatus. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 222,  Dispensing,   for processes of dispensing.

3	Aerosol or gas-charged type:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 2.  Processes in which the dispenser receiver is of the aerosol type, i.e., the material to be dispensed, powder or liquid, is dissolved in or carried by a vaporizing propellant which forms the charge of the dispenser. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 20, for apparatus for filling or refilling aerosol type dispensers. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 222,  Dispensing,   subclasses 394+ for aerosol type dispensers. 239,  Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,   subclasses 8+ for processes of mixing a material with a fluid and then spraying; subclasses 337+ for apparatus spraying a plurality of materials and comprising a holder for one material to be entrained or dissolved in a gas; subclass 372 for aerosol type spray holders with a specifically claimed nozzle; subclasses 398+ for mixing and discharging a plurality of fluids; and subclass 573 for a discharge nozzle having a valve providing an expansion chamber of the aerosol type. 516,  Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting,   subclasses 1+ for continuous gas or vapor phase colloid system (e.g., smoke, fog, aerosol, cloud, mist) or agents for such systems or making or stabilizing such systems or agents, when generically claimed or when there is no hierarchically superior provision in the USPC for the specifically claimed art, especially subclasses 6+ for a colloid system which contains a propellant which contains an intended component with a boiling point below 68 oF/20 oC at one atmosphere, i.e., exists as gas or vapor at STP, such as propellants containing compressed air, or adsorbed or chemically bound CO 2.

4	Gas or variation of gaseous condition in receiver:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes which include steps relating to the presence, absence or manipulation of gas in connection with the receiver. (1) Note. Processes of treating the contents of the receiver while in the receiver, and also processes of pretreating the receiver with gaseous fluid are included. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 5+, for processes of filling receivers with gas and nongaseous fluent materials. 8, for processes for evacuating receivers and subsequently filling with gas. 37+, for apparatus pertaining to the filling of receivers under conditions involving gas and contents material other than gas in a confined system, and see the search notes to subclass 37 for other apparatus in this and other classes for filling apparatus involving gaseous modification or application. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclass 403 for processes for filling a receiver with gas with subsequent closing, and subclasses 432+ for processes in which vacuum treatment or gas treatment is applied for contents treatment. 95,  Gas Separation: Processes,   for processes of gas separation, per se. 137,  Fluid Handling,   subclasses 154+ for fluid handling pressure systems containing diverse fluids, subclasses 1+ for fluid handling processes involving gases, especially subclass 12.5 for processes for handling carbonated beverages.

5	With filling with fluent non-gaseous materials:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 4.  Processes in which fluent material other than gaseous material is handled in connection with the filling operation. (1) Note. The materials other than gaseous may be either liquid or fluent solids. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 37+, for apparatus for filling with gas and fluent material other than gas, and see the search notes to subclass 37 for additional search fields.

6	Counter-pressure type:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 5.  Processes in which gaseous material is introduced into the receiver ahead of nongaseous material in order to equalize pressure between receiver and supply prior to filling with the main contents material. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 37+, for apparatus for carrying out the processes of this subclass.

7	With evacuation of container:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 5.  Processes in which gaseous material is withdrawn from the container before, during or after filling of the container with nongaseous material. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 59+, for apparatus for filling receivers with evacuation of gaseous material from the receiver before or during filling with other material. 64, for gas treatment of filled receivers. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   for processes for contents treating with vacuum or gas in processes of that class, which may be the processes of Class 141 with additional steps pertaining to the manufacture of either the contents or the receiver.

8	Vacuum:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 4.  Processes in which gaseous material is removed from a receiver. (1) Note. The product of this operation is a receiver more or less completely evacuated and with or without a refilling of gaseous material. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 4, for filling with gas without evacuating steps. 65+, for evacuation apparatus, and see the search notes to subclass 65 for additional search field. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclass 405 for processes of gas evacuation and closing, and subclass 408 for gas evacuation followed by gas filling and closing. 313,  Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices,   subclasses 7 and 174+ for evacuating pumps and with getter gas or vapor generating means or pressure regulating means there classified. 445,  Electric Lamp or Space Discharge Component or Device Manufacturing,   subclasses 38+ , 53+, 70, and 73 for methods of manufacture and apparatus for electric lamp devices including evacuation and degasification combined with other operations.

9	Plural materials:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes in which plural fluent materials are supplied to the receiver. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 100+, for apparatus for filling receivers with plural fluent materials. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclasses 470+ for processes of filling receivers with articles and fluent materials.

10	Bag filling:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes in which the receiver is a bag, i.e., a receptacle of nonself-sustaining material, the manipulation of which is not characteristic of the handling of preformed rigid receivers. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 114+, for apparatus for filling flexible or collapsible receivers in which there is manipulation of the receivers to change its shape or dimensions, and see the search notes to subclass 114 for additional search fields.

11	With material treatment:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Processes involving alteration of a physical characteristic of the contents material before, during, or after filling. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 69+, for apparatus for carrying out the processes of this subclass. 82, for apparatus for heating or cooling contents material before, during or after filling. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclass 428 for processes which in addition to the material of Class 141 include additional steps pertaining to the manufacture of either the contents or the receiver. 426,  Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products,   subclasses 392+ for packaging processes involving the treatment of food.

12	Compacting:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 11.  Processes in which the treatment involved increases the density of the charge within the receiver. (1) Note. The steps which result in compacting must be other than or in addition to the compacting effect of certain discharge assistants, the operation of which may or may not compact the material according to the nature of the material. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 73+, for apparatus for compacting material in the receiver, and subclass 81 for discharge assistants of the trap type which compact the charge after it has been separated from the main supply. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclass 436 for processes of packaging with compacting which involve in addition to the steps of Class 141 additional steps relating either to the manufacture of the contents or the manufacture or closing of the receiver.

13	MODIFICATION OF FILLING CYCLE IN STARTING AND STOPPING:
	This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Apparatus in which a method of operation, characteristic of the filling of a single receiver or several receivers, is modified during the opening or closing period of operation of the mechanism for the purpose of allowing coordination of operations some of which may be delayed proportionally to others at such periods of beginning and ending operation of the mechanism. (1) Note. Such factors as those essential to the operation of the machine as a supply of contents material or of receivers are not considered to be modifying factors. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 139, 153, for automatic control of the operation of successive receptacle type fillers by contents material. 140+, for interrupted or irregular cycle of operation involving no can-no fill devices. 155, for safety stops in successive type receptacle fillers. 156+, for filling systems involving successive receivers where filling is triggered by the receiver.

14	SIPHON BOTTLE CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS:
	This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Apparatus comprising means for filling or refilling bottles of the pressure fluid discharge type. (1) Note. For classification in this subclass more than a mere reference to apparatus for use for a siphon bottle filling is required, e.g., a claimed support or guide means for the siphon bottle, combined siphon bottle valve operator and bottle holding arrangement, interacting fill valve and dispenser operators, or siphon bottle dispensing nozzle and means to press the said nozzle to a filling pipe. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 18+, for other apparatus for filling or refilling dispensers, especially subclass 20 for apparatus for filling aerosol dispensers, which are distinguished by the fact that the propellant is supplied in liquid form, the device usually not being refillable.

15	For receiver with diverse filling opening:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Devices in which the bottle is provided with a filling opening which is distinct from its dispensing opening. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 325+, for receivers with plural openings.

16	With plural heads, stations or materials:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Apparatus having plural filling means either at the same or different locations or wherein there is provided means whereby different charges or substances may be delivered to the bottle. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 100+, for other filling apparatus involving plural materials, material supplies or charges in a receiver. 234+, for apparatus including plural filling heads.

17	With gas capsule supporting or manipulating means:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Apparatus including means for handling (e.g., piercing), or supporting a separable gas supply cartridge. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 19, for filling dispensers with gas from a gas pressure cartridge including a cutter or punch. 329, for filling means requiring puncturing type connections. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 261,  Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus,   subclasses 119+ for liquids contained in receptacles in contact with gases.

18	FILLING OR REFILLING OF DISPENSERS:
	This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Apparatus defining a source of supply and filling means claimed in combination with a receiver having some characteristic recognized as a dispenser, or claimed as having features of utility only in connection with receivers of the dispensing type. (1) Note. For classification in this subclass there must be claimed a receiver with some dispensing part which cooperates with the filling means or there must be dispenser structure (other than force-producing means confined to a fountain applicator) claimed, the reverse operation of which assists in the filling thereof. (2) Note. This subclass and those indented thereunder may define the characteristics of the receiver-dispenser and not necessarily the supply means. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 2+, for methods relating to the filling of dispensers. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 222,  Dispensing,   subclasses 149+ for cleaners where provided which may extend through the dispenser outlet nozzle. 401,  Coating Implements With Material Supply,   subclass 119 for the combination of (a) a source of supply and filling means with (b) an applicator with material supply (e.g., fountain pen), in which combination means to produce force to move coating material from the source of supply to the applicator is either entirely absent or is present in the applicator only.

19	With cutter or punch for gas pressure cartridge:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 18.  Apparatus including a piercing or penetrating means for cooperation with a gas capsule. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 329+, for filling means with receiver coacting means requiring a puncturing type connection, and see the search notes thereto. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 169,  Fire Extinguishers,   subclasses 85+ for portable fire extinguishers involving gas pressure discharge. 222,  Dispensing,   subclass 5 for gas or vapor dispersers including a cutter or punch. 239,  Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,   subclasses 271 and 309 for piercing means combined with a nozzle apparatus for discharging fluids, and other appropriate subclasses, especially subclasses 337+ and 398+ for apparatus which sprays one fluid by the pressure differential caused by the flow of another. 261,  Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus,   subclasses 121+ for gas and liquid contact apparatus involving cutter or punch.

20	Aerosols:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 18.  Apparatus in which the dispenser is of the aerosol type, i.e., the material to be dispensed is dissolved and/or carried by a vaporizing propellant which forms the charge of the dispensing container. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 3, for processes involving the filling of aerosol type dispensers, and see the search notes thereto. 14+, for apparatus for filling or refilling siphon bottles with gas. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 239,  Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,   appropriate subclasses, especially subclasses 337+ and 398+ for apparatus which sprays one fluid by the pressure differential caused by the flow of another.

20.5	Coating-implement-type receiver:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 18.  Apparatus in which the receiver dispenser is a manually manipulated device (e.g., fountain pen) used for applying or spreading a coating material on a work surface by contact therewith, and in which the source of supply includes means, other than or in addition to that inducing gravity or capillary flow, for producing a force to move the material from the source to the dispenser. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 15,  Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning,   subclass 257.072 for the subcombination of a source of supply, which source includes resilient means, adapted to be actuated by a coating implement, for producing a force on the coating material to move the material from a supply zone to a coating-implement-receiving-and-loading zone; and see (1) Note thereto for the distinction between the subject matter of that subclass and that of Class 222, Dispensing. 222,  Dispensing,   subclasses 576+ for a dispensing inkwell; i.e., one which includes a trap chamber from which ink is removed by contact with the pen point of a pen. 401,  Coating Implements With Material Supply,   subclasses 118+ for the combination of a supply source and a coacting receiver which is an independent applicator, in which combination material-moving force-producing means is either entirely absent or is present in the receiver only.

21	By operation of means causing or controlling dispensing:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 18.  Apparatus which cooperates in some way with the dispenser being filled, some part or parts of the dispenser, ordinarily relied upon for separating a portion of the material from the supply, being operated or manipulated to accomplish the filling operation.

22	Removable dispenser is supply container closure:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 21.  Devices in which the dispenser is characterized as a closing or capping means removably associated with the supply container of which it is a part. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 322, for combined supply closures and traps which are manually coupled to the supply container and thereafter filled by inverting the resulting organization. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 73,  Measuring and Testing,   subclasses 864.01+ for a pipette, per se.

23	Expansible chamber dispenser:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 22.  Devices in which the dispenser is characterized by a means capable of establishing a volumetric change effective to control dispensing. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 222,  Dispensing,   subclasses 206+ for resilient wall dispensers, per se, and see the search notes to subclass 206 for additional search fields.

24	Resilient wall:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 23.  Devices having one or more walls or portions thereof which may be distorted or deflected by application of a force and which return to their original position when the force is removed.

25	Expansible chamber of fluid pressure applying or controlling means:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 21.  Devices in which the means causing or controlling dispensing comprises a volumetric change affecting means or comprises some nonsolid means for exerting a force upon the materials to be dispensed.

26	Dispenser carried expansible chamber pump:
	This subclass is indented under subclass 25.  Dispensers in which the volumetric change effecting means is attached to the dispenser.

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