EP0873947B1 - Storage container for liquid or pasty products,provided with a rigid structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container for the packaging of liquid or pasty products, having a rigid structure. This structure maintains a bag capable of receiving a addition with organs drain, said addition being able to contain the product liquid or pasty.

The invention will particularly find its application in the field of transport, packaging and storage of different products such than liquid or pasty products. In particular, the container can be used for cosmetic products or even food such as mustard, mayonnaise or fruit extracts.

The increasing traffic flows of goods currently require material suitable for transport of all kinds of materials. In this context, it is very important to be able to circulate liquid or pasty products, for example between their place of manufacturing and their place of packaging.

Given this need, there are currently storage and handling devices for liquid or pasty materials. These devices include different building blocks. First, devices are generally used with a chassis constituting the base of the assembly on which are positioned candles often made of vertical square tubes. Most often, candles are topped by a shaped frame substantially rectangular and making up the upper part of the device.

According to current devices, we position in this rigid set a bag allowing to contain a besides in particular in plastic material capable of receiving the product to be stored.

Finally, current systems include emptying means allowing, at the place of arrival of the product, to empty the device.

The users of such devices are currently facing different problems disadvantages of the devices thus described.

First, the current systems do not present no means to maintain the addition and means when handling them. So it is difficult to put the bag inside the bag and perform filling or emptying operations from the skin. This handicap is particularly important when it comes to connecting the draining means to pipes for example by means of threaded parts.

Furthermore, the means of emptying and possibly the means of filling the addition, are poorly positioned which does not eliminate the shrinkage and makes these means are difficult to access. The manipulation is therefore difficult and there is a loss of product.

Another drawback is the mounting of the skin since this does not present a means of gripping. It is therefore difficult and delicate to achieve its deployment inside the bag.

Another disadvantage is, when emptying, poor maintenance of the skin. This in fact generates a sagging of the bottle, which could hinder drainage.

The object of the present invention is to remedy to the drawbacks of current devices and in particular of overcome those described above.

The object of the container according to the invention is to allow more convenient mounting.

To do this it has the advantage of presenting gripping means for the skin allowing its manipulation during its assembly.

The container also has elements of maintenance of the draining bodies and possibly of filling. Therefore their handling is much easier.

Another object of the invention is to increase the container safety for packaging during storage and transportation.

With this in mind, the container described here allows good maintenance of the addition and the means of emptying. This avoids any swinging of the product likely cause problems during handling and container handling.

The invention also aims to ensure more efficient filling and emptying phases of the container.

To do this, the invention has the advantage of allow better accessibility of the organs of filling. It also has the particularity of avoiding the braked at the end of emptying.

The filling and emptying operation is also made more convenient and faster by the presence of means for holding the skin and the organs of emptying and filling during handling.

Other goals and advantages will become apparent course of the description which follows which is not however given for information only.

The present invention relates to a container for the packaging of liquid or pasty products, having a rigid structure holding a bag likely to receive a addition with organs of emptying, said addition being able to contain the product liquid or pasty, characterized in that it has means for holding the emptying members in order to guarantee efficient handling of the container both of its assembly than of its use.

• Les figures 1 et 2 présentant des modes particuliers de réalisation de l'invention.
• La figure 3 illustrant notamment un mode de remplissage de l'outre.
• La figure 4 montrant un exemple de réalisation des moyens de maintien selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the drawing boards located in the annex which include:

• Figures 1 and 2 showing particular embodiments of the invention.
• Figure 3 illustrating in particular a filling method of the bottle.
• Figure 4 showing an embodiment of the holding means according to the invention.

The container (1) for packaging first comprises a rigid structure (2) forming a load-bearing framework.

The rigid structure (2) may be composed, as currently known, a chassis (23), candles (24) and a frame (25).

The frame (23) forms the base of the container as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in particular. The chassis (23) could for example consist of four cylinder portions (29) placed vertically along their axis of revolution, and four horizontal tubes (30) joining the four cylindrical portions (29). The link cylindrical portions (29) on the tubes (30) may for example be carried out by mechanical welding.

The horizontal tubes (30) may have a cylindrical section but preferably a section square or rectangular. The entire chassis (23) may be made of different materials and particularly steel. This chassis (23) will have dimensions adapted to each container (1) mainly according to the capacity desired. Generally, we will make a frame (23) forming substantially a square base.

The rigid structure (2) is still made up by candles (24) placed vertically and likely to fit into the cylindrical portions (29) which will therefore preferably be hollow.

The mounting of the candles (24) is therefore ensured quickly and conveniently on the chassis (23). The number of candles is not limited, as is the number of cylindrical portions (29) but nevertheless a set of four candles (24) and four cylindrical portions (29) will be commonly used.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the candles (24) can be surmounted by a frame (25). This the latter will for example be carried out in the same way as the chassis (23), i.e. with cylindrical portions vertical and horizontal tubes. The establishment of frame (25) will then be done in a similar way to setting place candles (24) on the frame (23), by interlocking of the candles (24) in the interior volume cylindrical portions.

According to another possibility of realization, the frame (25) is constituted by transverse rods (26) as illustrated in Figure 2.

According to this possibility, we adapt rods transverse (26) for example of rectangular section with near the upper end (31) of the candles (24). This adaptation can be achieved by a system of tongue formed at the end of the transverse rods (26) and capable of cooperating with slides (27) fixed to near the upper end (31), on the candles (24).

This way we use four rods transverse (26) forming the four edges of a square whose summits are substantially formed at the end upper (31) of the candles (24).

The frame (25) thus produced has the advantage of being removable and facilitates transport or empty storage of the container (1).

The rigid structure (2) described here allows the substantially maintains its interior volume of a bag (3) as illustrated in Figure 1.

The bag (3) will be made up of different materials and preferably in materials sufficiently flexible and resistant. A good fabric quality may be suitable.

Maintaining the bag (3) on the rigid structure (2) will for example be carried out by means of straps formed on the bag (3) and capable of being fixed on the frame (25) at the level of the transverse rods (26) or horizontal tubes, according to the embodiment of the frame (25).

It is also possible to train on the bag (3) sleeves (28) capable of being engaged around the transverse rods (26) as illustrated in the figure 1.

The essential function of the bag (3) maintain and protect the skin (4) that it is likely to receive in its volume interior.

Different materials can be used for the addition (4) such as a flexible plastic material. This additionally (4), generally flattened when empty, may be deployed in the interior volume of the bag (3). Of this way, the underside (16) of the skin (4) will positioned at the bottom of the bag (3) and its upper face (15) will be placed substantially close to the part top of the bag (3). The upper edges (17) of the addition (4) can for example be placed so substantially parallel to the transverse rods (26) or to the horizontal tubes.

In general, the addition (4) will include organs allowing its emptying and filling.

The draining elements (5) will be preferably placed on the underside (16). According to the invention, the drain members (5) can be positioned substantially in the center of this underside (16) which makes it possible to ensure emptying without shrinking.

In order to lead to the outside, the organs drain (5) will generally protrude by through a hole formed in the bottom of the bag (3). Of this way the draining elements (5) are accessible by the outside of the bag (3).

The addition (4) will also generally present filling members (6) for bringing the product to be transported and stored in the interior volume from the skin (4).

To fill as completely as possible the addition (4), we preferentially place the filling (6) on or near the upper face (15). This case is illustrated in Figure 3.

According to the invention, in order to facilitate the filling and particularly the accessibility of the organs filling (6), these will be placed on the face upper (15) but close to one of the edges upper (17) of the addition (4).

In this way, the filling members (6) are more accessible to operating or handling which makes the phase of filling.

The emptying (5) and filling elements (6) may take various forms, including be constituted by bungs (9; 10). These crowds will of current type and will appear for example such as shown in Figure 4.

The end of the bumps may present a threaded part to adapt a threaded pipe (22) by example for filling illustrated in figure 3.

According to the invention, the container (1) has holding means (7) for the emptying members (5) so to guarantee efficient handling of the container (1). According to one embodiment, the container (1) has also means for holding (8) the filling members (6).

The holding means (7; 8) can be made up of various forms and in particular according to the possibility illustrated in figure 4.

The means for holding (7; 8) the organs of emptying (5) and / or filling are, according to this solution, consisting of a fork (11) whose teeth (12a; 12b) adapt to the shape of the drain (9; 10).

In this case, the fork (11) comprises two teeth (12a; 12b) whose spacing is substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of the drain (9; 10).

According to another embodiment, the fork (11) includes a handle (13) also illustrated in FIG. 4. This handle makes it possible to constitute means of gripping facilitating handling by staff operating.

The handle (13) also allows you to make cooperate with the fork (11) with support means (14) integral with the rigid structure (2).

Indeed, for reasons of convenience and rapid response, it is very advantageous for bungs are perfectly maintained during use of the container (1). Using a cooperating handle (13) with a support bar (14) integral with the container (1), maintaining the addition (4) and its emptying members and filling (5; 6) is then largely reinforced.

The support means (14) may for example be constituted by a T-shaped element (14) composed of a fixing bar (20) and a guide bar (21).

The fixing bar (20) can for example be mounted by fitting into the interior volume of candles (24). The guide bar, for example constituted by a portion of hollow cylindrical tube allows guide the handle (13) introduced into its volume interior. This embodiment is illustrated in the figure 3. The support means (14) can also be fixed commonly on one of the candles (24) or on the chassis (23).

The training of the means of maintenance (8) of filling members (6) can be made so similar to that of the holding means (7) of the drain (5). This is what Figure 3 shows.

In another embodiment, the skin (4) comprises, near its upper edges (17), ears (18). The ears (18) allow manipulation of the addition (4) and its attachment to the rigid structure (2).

The ears (18) will be formed so integral with the addition (4) and for example in the same room. As illustrated in Figure 2, the ears (18) have a hole (32) for fixing the ears (18). This fixing is carried out by means of the rigid structure (2).

Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the ears (18) are mounted at the upper end (31) of the candles (24) by introducing them into the holes (32). The skin (4) is thus maintained in its part high and therefore does not deform during emptying which avoids any problem of loss of shape of the skin (4) when it empties.

Preferably, the addition (4) will present substantially at each of the corners of its upper face (15) at least one ear (18), each ear adapting to a candle (24).

The use of the container (1) thus described is realizes in a very practical way.

The assembly of the rigid structure (2) is consistent with what has been described namely that we introduce the candles (24) on the frame (23) via cylindrical portions (29).

It is then possible to form the frame (25) either by an element similar to the chassis (23) fitted on the candles (24) via portions cylindrical. It is also possible to form the frame (25) by mounting transverse rods (26) near the upper end (31) of the candles (24) by a system of tabs and slides (27).

The rigid structure thus composed ensures a good support and significant resistance. She permits also stacking of different containers (1) and authorizes their manipulation for example via palletizing trolleys.

The rigid structure (2) also allows the holding the bag (3) preferentially through of its frame (25). The bag (3) can be quickly put in place either by straps or by a threaded sheath (28) around the transverse rods (26). In this case, we put on first the transverse rods (26) then they are fixed on the candles (24) in the slide system (27).

Prior to mounting the bag (3) on the rigid structure (2), we prefer to set up the skin (4) in the interior volume of the bag (3). To do this, we introduces the bag (4) through the upper part of the bag (3) and the drain members (5) are put in place. This operation involves the introduction of the drainage elements (5) in the hole formed in the lower part of the bag (3) so that these members (5) open onto the outside.

It is then possible to fix the fork (11) in order to set up the holding means (7). Consequently, the draining members (5) can no longer escape from the hole formed on the bottom of the bag (3).

Once the bag (3) is placed on the rigid structure (2), it is possible to deploy the bag (4) in the interior volume of the bag (3).

This deployment is largely made more practical and quick by the presence of ears (18) allowing the gripping of the skin (4). Ears (18) also allow when the bag (4) is deployed, to secure it to the rigid structure (2). For this do, the ears (18) are engaged in the candles (24) by their upper end (31).

When the skin (4) includes filling (6), the holding means (8) are put in place for example constituted by a fork (11) with teeth (12a; 12b) and a handle (13).

When the container (1) is equipped with means support (14), they can be put in place to reinforce the maintenance of the emptying organs (5) and filling (6). Preferably, the support means (14) consist of a T-shaped element (14) with a fixing bar (20) which can be introduced by nesting in the upper end (31) of the candles (24). The other part of the T-shaped element (14) is made up by a guide bar (21) capable of receiving the handle (13) of the fork (11) to hold it.

The container thus assembled is ready for use and allows in particular the reception of threaded pipes (22) cooperating with the filling members (6) in order to fill the bottle (4), as shown in the diagram figure 3.

Once the bottle (4) is filled, it is possible store the liquid or pasty product or transport safely and conveniently thanks to the container (1) thus described which ensures good cohesion and good maintenance of its various constituent elements.

Claims (9)

1. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products, comprising a rigid structure (2) retaining a casing (3) which is able to receive a flexible bag (4) with discharge means (5), said flexible bag (4) being adapted to contain the liquid or pasty product, characterised in that it has holding means (7) for the discharge means (5) so as to ensure efficient handling of the container (1), both during its installation and during its use.
2. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible bag (4) comprises filling means (6), and in that the container (1) has holding means (8) for these filling means (6).
3. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the discharge and/or filling means (5;6) comprise shut-off means (9;10), and in that the holding means for the discharge and/or filling means (7;8) comprises a fork (11), the prongs (12a;12b) of which are adapted to the shape of the shut-off means (9;10).
4. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products, according to claim 3, characterised in that the fork (11) comprises a handle (13) adapted to cooperate with support means (14) attached to the rigid structure (2).
5. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to claim 4, characterised in that the support means (14) comprise a T-shaped element (14) formed by a securing bar (20) and a guide bar (21).
6. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the filling means (6) are formed on the upper surface (15) of the flexible bag (4), in the vicinity of the edge of the rigid structure (2) of the container (1), so as to assist the accessibility thereof and the rapidity of installing the holding means (8) for the filling means (6).
7. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the discharge means (5) are formed substantially in the centre of the lower surface (16) of the flexible bag (4) so as to enable it to be completely emptied.
8. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the flexible bag (4) comprises, in the vicinity of its upper edges (17), lugs (18) allowing the handling of the flexible bag (4) and its fastening to the rigid structure (2).
9. A container (1) for the packaging of liquid or pasty products according to claim 8, characterised in that the flexible bag (4) comprises, substantially in each corner of its upper surface (15), at least one lug (18) which can be fitted on to the upper ends (31) of the rigid structure (2).

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