FR2482567A1 - SHUTTERING DEVICE FOR A SOFT TYPE CONTAINER OF FLUID MATERIALS - Google Patents

Abstract

CLOSING DEVICE FOR CONTAINER OF THE FLEXIBLE TYPE OF FLUID MATERIALS. IT INCLUDES A FIRST SLEEVE 20 FIXED ON AN OPENING IN THE WALL 21 OF A CONTAINER AND INTENDED TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN THANKS TO AN APPROPRIATE CYLINDRICAL INTERIOR FACE A SECOND SOCKET 23 ANALOGUE TO A HOLLOW PLUG HAVING A CENTRAL OBTURE 26 TEARABLE MEMBRANE 29 AND CAPABLE OF RECEIVING AN NON-REPRESENT VALVE WHICH TEARS THE MEMBRANE WHEN IT IS IN PLACE.

Description

248256T

  The invention relates to a container and to

  improvements made to the latter, intended in particular

  bind but not exclusively to contain liquids and / or particulate matter, i.e. generally fluid materials. More specifically, the object of the invention is a device which is mounted on a socket serving as a neck or filling mouthpiece and capable of constituting

  with this socket a set that can be used to fill it

wise or for distribution.

  Containers having a wall of composite material

  site of the type considered here are being used on an ever increasing scale for the storage and shipping of beverages such as, for example, wine or non-wine, alcohols, fruit juices, liqueurs and even milk . For the simplicity of the explanations, the

  The following description will refer more particularly to

  containers of the type that will be called "bag and box" that is now commonly used to replace barrels for the storage and shipping of wines and other alcoholic beverages. It should be understood, however, that these merely represent a preferred use of the containers of the type in question and that the container of the invention should not be restricted to this sole use.

prefer.

  It has become standard practice

  the wine or similar beverage in a bag-like container with a neck or mouth-like accessory that can be attached to a dispensing tap or the like. In general, these bag-like containers are first filled with wine and then sealed with an open end of the bag itself. When the depositor's wine container, which is known in the market under the name "AIRLESFL0", was launched a few years ago, it included an outer container of relatively rigid material, for example as a box.

  cardboard or as a metal box, and a container

  similar to a suitable plastic bag to contain the wine. The inner container was first filled with wine and then sealed transversely to a previously opened end so as to prevent the wine from escaping from this inner container. Then it was provided with a dispensing accessory or a neck likely to be engaged in the outer container and which was able to receive a dispensing valve with the help of which the content of the inner container could

to be distributed.

  In an alternative embodiment, it had been proposed to design the inner container as a sealed bag-comprising a bushing serving as an accessory for

  filling and a socket serving as a distribution accessory

  bution, these two accessories or sleeves being spaced from each other so that the container-like bag can be filled by the filling sleeve which was then sealed so that one obtains for wine a container str, this wine can be subsequently distributed by the second bushing or bushing provided with

  of a faucet or similar means to which it was joined.

  More specifically, when the container had been filled and sealed, the dispensing bushing was engaged in any known manner with the outer container and, when it was desired to obtain wine from the inner container, a faucet or the like could be introduced into the container. the

distribution sleeve.

  According to yet another variant, he had been

  intended to provide the inner container with a dispensing tap

  incorporated in it, a valve which could not be placed at an operating or dispensing position, with respect to the outer container, except by the opening of a slot or a similar provision in the container

  outside then by the engagement of the cock in this slot.

  The main object of the present invention is to

  to make a refinement to the aforementioned "AIRLESFLO" type container so that the inner container can be provided with an accessory through which the liquid can be introduced into and removed from the inner container, the latter being in fact initially sealed at least by the fixation which

  is made of the accessory in question.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a filling and distribution assembly that can be used with a composite wall container for fluids and

analogous materials.

  A container according to the invention comprises an inner bag-like container for receiving and holding a liquid, having a single socket through which the bag can be filled with liquid and through which liquid can be removed from the bag , chopper sealing means for closing the filling and dispensing bush against leakage of the liquid until a dispensing tap has been added thereto. According to one embodiment of the invention, a

  container-like container for receiving and holding

  nir a liquid, is provided with a single socket through which the bag can be filled with liquid at a rate

  desired and through which the liquid can be subsequently

  internally distributed means for closing this sleeve after filling the bag to prevent the liquid from escaping, these closure means being adapted to receive and support in the operating position a valve

of distribution.

  Preferably, means are provided for closing the passage opening through a filler neck of a liquid container so that leakage or exit of the liquid through said filler sleeve is prevented or made impossible, such means of closing being able to receive and support in position a tap

  dispensing the liquid contents of the container.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a bag-like container is provided with a filling bushing through which it can be easily filled with liquid and a closure means of this sleeve opposes the exit of the liquid. outside the bag, this means

  being able to receive and support in a position of use

  a dispensing valve for the liquid contained in the bag and having a tear-off membrane which can be fractured as a result of the engagement of the valve in this closure means so that the liquid can flow out of the bag through the filling socket and through the faucet

when it has been opened.

  In addition, according to the invention, means are provided to oppose the passage of oxygen or air to contact the contents of the inner bag so as to increase the shelf life of this content when

  oxygen or air could cause its deterioration.

  The device of the invention is intended to receive a dispensing tap such as that described in US Pat. No. 3,448,889, although it is not

  not strictly limited to this particular faucet.

  We will now give, only for

  example and without limiting intent, a description

  several embodiments of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which - Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top and side views of a first embodiment of a filler socket for a bag-like container, - Figures 3 and 4 are respectively top and side views of a first embodiment of a closure means according to the invention, - Figure 5 is a bottom view of the closure means of Figure 3, - Figure 6 FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the closure means of FIG. 3; FIG. in cross-section through a median plane of another embodiment of the invention, showing the filler bushing and the closure means in the assembled state with each other, - Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 of a

  another embodiment of the invention.

  In the first embodiment of the invention,

  1 and 2, a filling and dispensing bush designated 1 is substantially tubular and cylindrical, with a diameter large enough to accommodate the nozzle of a filling machine by means of which wine or a similar product must be introduced into a container

  interior of the type mentioned above.

  At the innermost end of the socket 1

  an outer flange 2 of relative diameter is provided

  large with which the sleeve itself can be attached to the inner bag of a composite container. This fixing can be ensured in any known manner, for example by means of an adhesive or, alternatively, by welding following the application of heat or by means of

  of an ultrasonic welding machine.

  The outermost end of the socket 1

  is provided with a second outer flange 3 whose size

  in the radial direction is somewhat less than

  the flange 2 mentioned above.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention,

  the central portion of the first mentioned flange 2 is thickened so as to constitute, in fact, an additional flange 4 having substantially the same radial dimension as the second flange 3, the latter and the additional flange 4 being in fact separated by an interval

  which constitutes a neck or neck sufficient to accommodate

  der of the material constituting the outer container.

  In the outermost part, or in its vicinity,

  1, there is provided an inner flange (not shown) which is capable of serving as a means for holding in position a second bushing 6 (see FIGS. 3 to 6) intended to receive a dispensing tap. or a similar organ. In a variant, the sleeve 1 may be provided with internal corrugations or threads capable of cooperating with complementary threads or corrugations provided on a means for holding the sleeve 6 in position.

  for the purpose of receiving a dispensing tap.

  The second bushing 6 preferably comprises two substantially cylindrical concentric elements 7 and 8 joined at one of their ends, for example by means of a flange 9 extending to the outside. The latter extends outwardly from the outer edge of the innermost substantially cylindrical member 8

  passing transversely to the adjacent end of the

  substantially cylindrical exterior 7 to extend

  externally beyond this outer cylindrical member 7.

  As can be seen in the figure, the substantially cylindrical inner member 8 is tubular, with a central inner passage 10 therethrough and which is adapted to receive and retain in position a dispensing valve or the like. The substantially cylindrical outer member 7 comprises an outer rib or protuberance 11 which is capable of engaging

  with an inner rib of the first bushing

  wise 1 so that the bushing 6 of distribution can be

  retained in position relative to the first socket 1.

  In the outer surface of the outer flange

  9 extends beyond the second bushing 6, there is a recess 12 non-circular intended to cooperate

  with a non-circular flange on the outer surface

  the body of a dispensing valve, so that it can be engaged with the filling and dispensing assembly in a manner that prevents rotation thereof relative to this assembly. Australian Patent No. 407,456 may be referred to in order to find a

  description of the dispensing faucets likely to be

  used with containers of the type described here.

  In another embodiment of the invention,

  also illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the integrated surface

  the outer flange 9 of the second bushing 6 has a plurality of raised transverse elements 13 capable of projecting a sufficient distance from this surface to cooperate with the outer surface of the outer flange of the outer end of the outer flange. the first bushing, so that the outer flange of the second bushing is spaced from the outer flange of the

first socket.

  Through the end of the substantially cylindrical inner member 8 there is a plastic membrane 14 or other suitable material which acts as a tear-off barrier preventing leakage of the contents out of the bag when the second socket 6 is assembled with the first sleeve 1. The membrane 14 is preferably of a suitable thickness such that, when a dispensing valve is introduced inside the inner element 8 of the second bushing 6, this membrane 14 is broken, which allows the contents of the bag to flow through the faucet and, thus, to be dispensed. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and second sleeves 1 and 6 are made of polyethylene and the tearable membrane 14 is also made of this material. However, it must be heard

  that other materials may also be suitable

  ble. The membrane 14 can be an integral part of

  the inner element 8 or, alternatively, it can be manufactured

  separately and affixed to this element by gluing, welding or any other suitable method. Alternatively, or in addition, an additional membrane (not shown) may be placed across the inner end of the member 7. This additional membrane may be attached

  by gluing, welding, or any other suitable method

  nable. In one embodiment of the invention

  particularly advantageous, an integral container is obtained.

  laughter by doing it with the help of what we can

  call a plastic material with several layers or thicknesses.

  Preferably, the innermost surface of this multi-layered material is that of a plastics material of a type that does not react with the fluid to be stored in the bag or flexible container. A second layer may be made of plastic capable of constituting a barrier preventing passage through porosity

  air or oxygen. We can still foresee a third

  sth layer, preferably the outermost layer, of relatively strong plastic whose role is to provide the desired resistance to the multilayer composite material. The materials to be selected to achieve this result are well known and, in a preferred example, a flexible container of the type described above may include polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, polyester metalized with aluminum, or a sheet of pure aluminum, polyester or polyvinyl chloride in a number

  any suitable combination or permutation.

  In practice, the material from which the bag is made is set to the desired profile and then sealed at its periphery. On the bag thus obtained is practiced at a given location an opening of sufficient size to receive the first sleeve 1 that

  it is introduced into this opening or placed

  above it and that is attached to this position by any known means, for example by welding the outer flange 2. Then, when the first bushing 1 or

  filling socket has been attached to the bag,

  wine or other fluid, in the desired quantity. After filling, the second bushing 6 is assembled with the first bushing 1 to close this bushing.

  last and prevent the release of the liquid.

  When it is desired to dispense the contents of the bag, it is simply necessary to introduce a tap in the passage 10 that the substantially cylindrical inner member 8 has to a depth such that the inner end of this tap meets and tears the membrane 14

  which is at the inner end of this element 8.

  Then, the valve is pushed firmly inside the element until the outer flange provided on the surface of this valve engages in the recess complementary profile 12 provided on the outer flange of the second socket 6, so that this valve is firmly immobilized and can not perform any relative rotational movement with respect to the assembly composed of the container and the filling and dispensing sleeve. We can then use the tap in the usual way to

let the contents of the bag flow.

  If desired, removable or tear-off closure means (not shown) may be placed across the other end of the member 8 to prevent entry of dust or other contaminants. This closure means may be constituted by a removable cap, a tearable label of suitable material attached to the outer surface of the flange 9, a molded membrane integral with the outer end of the element 8, or an additional membrane placed across the outer end of the element 8 and fixed by gluing, welding or any other suitable method; this means can also be any other suitable closure device. According to another embodiment of the invention, a single tearable membrane can be placed so as to

  provide the two desired results, that is to say to prevent

  expensive unintentional discharge of the liquid out of the container during storage, etc., and to prevent the entry of unwanted foreign matter and oxygen into the assembly of the filling and dispensing sockets. Referring now to Figure 7 which shows an alternative embodiment of the sleeve 6 illustrated

by Figures 3 to 6.

  In this example, the socket 6 'is able to receive

  see and retain a dispensing valve or the like (not shown) in two separate and distinct positions, namely a first position or storage position and a second position or dispensing position. In the first position, the valve is introduced and retained in the concentric passage of the substantially cylindrical inner member 8 'of the bushing 6' without the plastic tearable membrane 14 'being pierced or fractured. In the second position, the faucet was pushed further inside the socket itself

  in order to break the membrane 14 'and to allow the distribution

  liquid content. To assist in obtaining the above-mentioned result, the mounting sleeve may be elongate in its longitudinal direction and preferably provided with two inner ribs 40 for cooperating with complementary outer ribs, slots or latches.

  grooves provided on the body of the dispensing valve.

  When set to its first position or storage position, the valve may rotate relative to the socket. On the contrary, when he was put to his second

  position or position of distribution, where there has been

  between the non-circular recess 12 'of the flange 9' which extends outwardly of the bushing 6 'and the flange

  non-circular tap any relative rotation is inter-

  said between the latter and the socket.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 8, a filling and dispensing assembly for the containers of the type considered here is constituted by a first bushing 20 which can be attached to the inner container 21 and a second bushing 22 similar to a hollow plug capable of being introduced into the first bushing 20. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner surface of the first bushing 20 may have corrugations and the outer surface of the second bushing may have corrugations complementary which allows to bring together by an actually hermetic mounting mode that eliminates any undesirable leakage of the liquid filling the container. Alternatively, the first and the second bushings 20 and 22 could be

  provided with grooves or nets respectively

  ensuring the desired tight connection. According to yet another variant, a suitable connection could be obtained simply by providing suitable sizing of the first and second bushes 20, 22

  so that we can adjust them together

  under pressure or with deformation.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, what can be called the skirt 23 of the second bushing 22 is longer than the neck 24 of the first bushing 20 so that, when it is put in its place, the skirt 23 extends outwardly beyond the first bushing 20. As can be seen, the skirt 23 of the second bushing 22 is provided at its outer end with an outer flange 25. This second bushing 22 preferably comprises a central passage

  16 limited by a substantially cylindrical inner collar

  drique. The latter is intended to receive the body of a faucet such as that manufactured and sold under the brand

  "AIRLESFL0" which is the subject of Australian Patent No. 407,456.

  At its innermost end, the second

  socket 22 has an end wall 28 which extends transversely

  is lying. To this end wall is fixed, by any known means, for example by welding, a disc 29 of suitable plastic material impervious to air, preferably having the same composition as the plastic material with three thicknesses

  with the help of which the container itself is constituted.

  This disk 29 has a thickness such that it is torn when the body of a valve is pushed inside the sleeve 22. Across the outer end thereof is preferably a membrane 30. suitable material which constitutes a closure opposing

  the entry of any foreign material into the contents of the

neur or socket.

  The cylindrical tubular inner member 27 of the second bushing 22 may be made with any suitable length and the length of the skirt 23 of the bushing 22 is such that the material constituting the wall of an outer container in which the container

  interior 21 is disposed engages between the interior surface

  re or bottom of the outer flange 25 and the outer end of the neck 24 of the first sleeve 20 so that the filling and dispensing assembly is immobilized against any linear movement relative to the outer container. In order to immobilize in rotation the same assembly, the outer surface of the skirt 23 of the second bushing 22 may, in the region where it extends beyond the outermost end of the first bushing 20, present preferably two opposed flat surfaces, or alternatively may have a square section, to be able to engage opposite sides of a suitable slot

  provided on the outer container.

12 2482567

  In a modification of realization of the invention

  9, the second bushing 32, rather than having the appearance of a plug that can be introduced into the first bushing 20, can be made as a cap fitting on this first bushing 20. In FIG. in this case, the connection between the first and the second bushes 20, 32 can be made in a manner similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 8, in other words using grooves, slots, ribs ,

  nets or similar elements, with complementary profiles

  res, provided on the neck 33 of the sleeve 20 and on the lower-part of the skirt 34 of the sleeve 32. With such a modification, the sleeve 32 comprises a portion 35 which extends outwards and which is provided an airtight plastic membrane 36 which is interposed between the respective bushings 30 and 32. Here again, the production of the outer surface of the second bushing 32 may be of square section so as to engage

  without the possibility of rotation in a corresponding opening

  dante provided on the outer container.

  When the valve is of a type comprising a rotatable inner member, it may be necessary to provide nuclei to prevent rotation of the body of this valve relative to the sockets. It may be desirable, moreover, to provide means for identifying the second bushing or bushing of distribution relative to the first bushing.

or filling socket.

  In the various examples of realization de-

  here, the impervious plastic material used for making the various sealing means (closure, membrane, etc.) may be a two-ply material rather than a three-ply material described above, comprising a first layer of polyethylene and a second layer of

  material substantially impervious to air such as poly-

  ester or nylon. In lieu of or in addition to the multi-layered material, the use of a thin layer of a material such as a metallized foil (for example with aluminum) or a foil suitably may be preferred. covered or plated with pure aluminum depending on the contents to be protected, which can be fixed with an adhesive at the inner end of the second bushing or bushing. This multi-layer embodiment allows the tear-off membrane to form a seal around the front portion or punch portion of the valve when the membrane has been perforated. This precaution

  prevents unwanted leakage and oxygen entry.

  Another modification would be to cover the outer surface of the second bushing with a very thin layer of a suitable material substantially impermeable to air.

  It must be understood that the description given

  above refers only to preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is possible to make variations or modifications without it being out for

  both the framework and the spirit of the invention.

Claims (13)

  A sealing and dispensing device for substantially leak-tight mounting on the outer end of a filling socket of a flexible bag type container, characterized in that said device comprises means for receiving and restraint   of a dispensing tap and at least one   extending transversely in a portion of the closure means, said membrane being arranged to be encountered and torn by the tap to allow   the flow of fluid enclosed in the container.   2. Device according to claim 1 characterized   rised in that the valve retaining means are capable of immobilizing it against any relative movement of rotation.   3. Device according to any one of the   1, 2 characterized in that the retaining means of the valve are able to prohibit any relative longitudinal movement of the latter relative to the sealing means and distribution.   4. Device according to any one of the   1 to 3 characterized in that the tearable membrane   is made of impermeable material.   5. Device according to claim 3 characterized   in that the closure means comprises a second valve retaining member against any undesirable longitudinal movement, this second element being able to hold the valve in an intermediate position before the latter meets and tears the membrane.   6. Device according to any one of the   1 to 5 characterized in that the tearable membrane   is an integral part of the sealing means.   7. Device according to any one of the   cations 1 to 6 characterized in that it comprises a membrane   additional removable to the tearable membrane.   8. Filling and dispensing assembly for a container of fluid and / or particulate material, comprising a first sleeve to be arranged   on the container to allow filling, and a   positive device according to claim 1, characterized in that this device is a second socket adapted to cooperate with the first socket to seal the container when it has been filled, this second socket further comprising means adapted to receive and retain a means distribution of the fluid or material enclosed in the container. 9. An assembly according to claim 8 characterized in that the second sleeve comprises a tearable membrane located at its inner end or in its vicinity, said tearable membrane being intended to be pierced by the means of distribution.   10. An assembly according to any of the claims   8, 9 characterized in that the dispensing means is a valve having a non-circular outer flange while the second bushing has a recess whose profile is complementary to the valve flange to immobilize it against any relative movement of   rotation relative to this second socket.   11. Distribution sleeve for a set   according to any one of claims 9, 10 for   to be mounted on a container to allow the distribution of the contents thereof, characterized in that it comprises a tearable membrane extending transversely to its inner end and means for receiving and retaining a dispensing means capable of drilling the membrane   tearable and let the contents of the container flow.   12. Inner bag type container having a filling and dispensing bushing having a passage through which liquid can flow out of the bag, characterized in that the outer end of this sleeve   is provided with a closure device according to any one that claims 1 to 7.   13. Container of the inner bag type provided with a filling and dispensing sleeve, characterized in that it comprises a device according to claim 1 sealingly mounted on the outer end of this sleeve, this device being associated with a means for receiving a valve, substantially fluid-tight,   and comprising a tear-off membrane arranged transversely   to form a barrier to the flow of liquid through this device, said membrane being arranged to be torn after the introduction of a valve into the device and to allow the flow through this valve of the liquid enclosed in the container , and also comprising means able to hold the tap in a position correct use. q