ITMI20091237A1 - OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIAL CONTAINERS INTENDED FOR THE PACKAGING OF FLUID PRODUCTS, PACKAGE INCLUDING A CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALS AND SUCH A CLOSING DEVICE AND PACKAGING METHOD D - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of application

In its more general aspect, the present invention refers to the sector of the packaging of fluid products.

In particular, the present invention relates to an opening and closing device for containers made of flexible material, such as bags, envelopes and the like, intended for the packaging of fluid products, such as for example food products and medical products.

The present invention also relates to a package for fluid products comprising a flexible container and such an opening and closing device as well as a method of packaging fluid products in such a package.

Known art

It is well known the use of opening and closing devices on containers made of flexible material, in particular bags, pouches and the like for packaging liquid or semi-liquid food products, such as for example drinks or juices, as well as solid food products having appropriate characteristics of fluidity (or smoothness), such as powdered or granular food products.

These containers are generally obtained from a sheet (or even several sheets) of an appropriate flexible material that is folded and sealed at least laterally so as to define a bottom, two opposite side walls between which an internal compartment is formed for the food product. , said opposite walls ending at the top with a mouth for the insertion of the desired food product.

In particular, opening and closing devices for flexible containers of the above type are known comprising a pouring body made of a rigid plastic material equipped with a spout for administering the food product, and an opening and closing element, usually a cap with a cap, removably associated with the upper end of the spout, for example by means of a threaded coupling for unscrewing and screwing the cap from and onto the spout as needed.

The pouring body is also equipped with suitable sealing surfaces by means of which it is sealed to corresponding opposite edges of the mouth of the flexible container previously filled with the desired food product according to known technologies, for example by hot pressing the opposite edges of the mouth. one towards the other and against the sealing surfaces of the pouring body previously interposed between said edges.

However, with current technologies, it is difficult to seal an opening and closing device of the aforementioned type in an optimal manner, i.e. liquid-tight, between the edges of the mouth of the still open flexible container, in particular in areas close to the ends of the sealing surfaces of the pouring body where the walls of the opposite edges of the mouth end being mutually joined and begin to diverge to adapt to the sealing surfaces of the pouring body, and this despite the general good compatibility of the materials subjected to sealing constituents the container and the pouring body.

Consequently, it frequently happens that the flexible container is not hermetically closed as desired to the point that the food product contained in it may be allowed to escape towards the outside as well as the entry of air inside the container with consequent possible deterioration. the organoleptic characteristics of said food product and impairment of the shelf-life indicated on the label.

This drawback takes on greater significance where the flexible container has been previously made sterile and the food product has been packaged in sterile (or aseptic) conditions due, for example, to its high degradability and / or to increase its shelf life (shelf-life). life).

Also known are opening and closing devices for flexible containers as described above in which the spout is equipped at the bottom with a blade or similar cutting means and is movable in the pouring body from a position of maximum distance of the blade from the container to a position of maximum approach in which the spout is irreversibly blocked and is able to pierce the container through the aforementioned blade thereby putting itself in fluid communication with the food product inside the container.

An opening and closing device as described above for flexible containers is described for example in European patent application No. 08012211.2.

These opening and closing devices, with a flexible container previously filled with the desired and closed food product, are inserted with their pouring body into a special pocket obtained by folding end portions terminating at the upper edges of the walls of the flexible container and then partially enclosed in said pocket by approaching the opposite walls of the pocket until they are sealed to each other and to the pouring body in correspondence with the respective sealing surfaces.

Although these opening and closing devices are satisfactory from the functional point of view, the optimal application of an opening and closing device illustrated above in the appropriate pocket of a flexible container is sometimes difficult and laborious.

In particular, due to the particular curved surface shape of the pocket it is sometimes difficult to insert the pouring body until reaching the lower end of the pocket and also to position the pouring body essentially vertically.

The problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of providing an opening and closing device for flexible containers intended for the packaging of fluid products such as food and medical products, as well as a relative method of packaging such fluid products which overcome the drawbacks previously mentioned with reference to the known art.

Summary of the invention

This technical problem is solved by an opening and closing device for a container made of flexible material intended for the packaging of fluid products, the device comprising a pouring body and an opening and closing element removably associated with said pouring body and being characterized by the made of further comprising a substantially plate-shaped base and shaped so as to be foldable around a perimeter portion of a predetermined external profile of said pouring body and sealed peripherally thereto, said base being intended to be welded below a predetermined portion of said flexible container equipped with an opening or opening so as to put said pouring body in communication with the internal volume of said flexible container.

In the present description, the term â € œfluid productsâ € sâ € ™ means liquid or semi-liquid products as well as solid products having appropriate characteristics of fluidity (or smoothness - so-called free-flowing) such as powdered or granular food products . Such food products can be food products, for example drinks or juices, as well as medical products, for example physiological solutions, drugs of various types.

According to a manufacturing method of the opening and closing device according to the invention, the pouring body comprises a spout with a predetermined axis for dispensing said fluid product and the base is formed in one piece with the pouring body underneath. or at the lower end of said spout and has a coaxial hole with the spout of said pouring body.

According to another way of manufacturing the opening and closing device according to the invention, the base has at least one bending invitation line to facilitate the folding and sealing of the base around the periphery of said upper portion of predetermined external profile of the pouring body.

Preferably, the base comprises first bending lead lines having an overall profile substantially equivalent to the external profile of said perimeter portion of the pouring body on said base and second bending lead lines located externally to the profile defined by said first bending lead lines .

Furthermore, the base can further comprise third bending lead lines located inside the profile defined by said first bending lead lines.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the first lines of bending invitation are formed externally and in proximity to the orthogonal projection of the perimeter portion of the pouring body on the base.

In the present invention, the lines leading to the folding of the base can be made in various ways that are conventional per se and are preferably constituted by the weakening lines made in a conventional manner, in particular by engraving.

According to one embodiment of the opening and closing device according to the invention, the perimeter portion of the pouring body comprises a plate-like flange with a predetermined external profile equipped with perimeter sealing surfaces.

According to another way of making the opening and closing device according to the invention, the base is made of one piece with said spout at the lower end of it.

According to a further embodiment of the opening and closing device according to the invention, the pouring body comprises a collar formed in one piece with said base, the spout is equipped with cutting means for a predetermined portion of said flexible container and the the spout is also movable in rotation in said collar between an upper end-of-stroke position in which said cutting means are located in said collar in the position of maximum distance from the flexible container and a lower end-stroke position in which said cutting means are in the position of maximum advancement and capable of piercing said predetermined portion of said flexible container.

The present invention also relates to a package comprising a flexible container and an opening and closing device of the above type.

According to one embodiment, this package comprises a flexible container having a first wall and a second wall opposed to each other and peripherally sealed along at least part of the respective lateral edges, a compartment inside said walls containing a fluid product and an opening device and closure of the aforesaid type, said device being sealed with the respective base on the surfaces! internal portions of respective upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall and said base being folded and possibly sealed around the portion of predetermined external profile of the pouring body and said end portions of said first wall and said second wall being folded One towards the other and possibly sealed together in areas not affected by the connection with said portion of the pouring body and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base.

The present invention also relates to a method of packaging a fluid product in a package of the aforesaid type. This method includes the steps of:

- providing a flexible container comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite each other and sealed laterally except in corresponding end portions terminating at the respective upper edges of said first wall and said second wall, said container being open along a mouth defined between said upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall,

provide an opening and closing device of the above type,

filling said open flexible container with a fluid product through said mouth,

mutually diverge said upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall until they extend along a substantially horizontal plane,

sealing the base of said opening and closing device on the inner surface of said extended end portions of the first wall and of the second wall,

folding said base and said extended end portions of said first wall and said second wall and sealing said folded base around a portion of a predetermined external profile of the pouring body of said opening and closing device and / or sealing said portions of folded ends of said first wall and said second wall in areas not affected by the coupling with said portion of the pouring body and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the package comprises a flexible container having a first wall and a second wall opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least part of the respective lateral edges, a compartment inside said walls containing a fluid product, a bellows element extending between the upper edges of said first wall and said second wall and sealed at least laterally to said first wall and said second wall at respective upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall and a opening and closing device according to claim 8, said device being sealed with the respective base on said bellows element and said base being folded and possibly sealed around the predetermined external profile portion of the pouring body and said end portions of said first wall and said second wall with said gusseted element being folded towards each other and possibly sealed together in areas not affected by the coupling with said portion of the pouring body and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base.

According to the invention, the method of packaging a fluid product in a package of the above type comprises the steps of:

- providing a flexible container comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite each other and sealed laterally except in corresponding end portions terminating at the respective upper edges of said first wall and said second wall, and an extended bellows element between the upper edges of said first wall and said second wall and sealed at least laterally to said first wall and said second wall at said corresponding upper end portions, said container being open along a mouth defined between said upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall,

provide an opening and closing device of the above type,

filling said open flexible container with a fluid product through said mouth,

- seal the facing edges of said mouth so as to hermetically close said flexible container,

mutually diverging said upper end portions of said first wall and said second wall until said bellows element extends along a substantially horizontal plane, - sealing the base of said opening and closing device on said bellows element,

folding said base and said end portions of said first wall and said second wall with said bellows element and sealing said folded base around a portion of predetermined external profile of the pouring body of said opening and closing device and / or sealing between of them said bent end portions of said first part and said second wall in areas not affected by the coupling with said portion of the pouring body and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base.

In the methods described above of the present invention, the sealing is carried out according to conventional techniques such as for example hot welding also known as with the terms heat-sealing or heat-welding, ultrasonic welding, use of adhesives, etc.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the description given below of some preferred embodiments, said description being given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached figures.

Brief description of the drawings

In the attached figures:

- Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of the whole and detached parts respectively of an opening and closing device for flexible containers according to a method of realization of the invention,

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the opening and closing device of Figures 1 and 2

- figure 4 shows a view of a detail of the opening and closing device of figures 1 and 2.

- Figures 5-8 show respective stages of packaging a fluid product in a package according to the invention comprising a flexible container and the opening and closing device of Figures 1 and 2,

- figures 8a and 8b schematically show a detail in relation to the packaging steps illustrated in figures 7 and 8 respectively,

- figure 9 shows a package according to the invention comprising a flexible container on which the opening and closing device of figures 1 and 2 is applied,

- figure 10 shows a partial sectional portion of the package of figure 9 when it is opened,

- figure 11 represents a perspective view of an opening and closing device for flexible containers according to another way of carrying out the invention,

- figure 12 shows a sectional view of the opening and closing device of figure 1 1,

- Figures 13-15 show respective stages of packaging a fluid product in a package according to the invention comprising a flexible container and the opening and closing device of Figure 1 1,

- figure 16 shows a package according to the invention comprising a flexible container on which the opening and closing device of figure 11 is applied,

- figure 17 shows a portion of the package of figure 16 in partial section when it is opened,

- Figures 18 and 19 show respective variants of embodiment of the base of the opening and closing device according to the invention.

Detailed description

With reference to figures 1-4, an opening and closing device for flexible containers according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. This opening and closing device is globally indicated with the reference number 1.

The opening and closing device 1 comprises, as main elements, a plate-like and foldable base 2, a pouring body indicated as a whole by 3, and a cap 4 coaxially associated with each other along a longitudinal axis X-X.

The pouring body 3 comprises a substantially cylindrical collar 5 formed integrally with the base 2 and extending above it, the collar 5 internally defining a coaxial channel 8 with reference to the aforementioned X-X axis for the passage of a fluid product, for example a product food or medical, and a spout 22 rotatably engaged in said channel 8, said spout 22 being provided at the bottom with cutting means for opening a flexible container specified below.

The collar 5 has externally and at a predetermined distance from the base 2, a plate-like flange 6 of predetermined external profile and predetermined thickness along the longitudinal axis X-X, the flange 6 being extended along the entire circumferential perimeter of the collar 5. In particular , the flange 6 is formed in one piece with the collar 5 and has a substantially hexagonal perimeter (or external} profile with opposing appendages 6a and surfaces 7 along its entire perimeter defined by its thickness for sealing at the base 2 as will be better explained in the following description.

The collar 5 also exhibits externally an annular band 9 formed as a piece and located above the flange 6 in close proximity to it. The annular band 9 has a plurality of teeth 10 in circumferential succession, the function of which will be explained below.

As an alternative to the annular band 9, a distinct ring can be provided having said teeth formed as a piece in circumferential succession, said ring being fitted onto the collar 5 and bound thereto by means of appropriate bridges.

The plate-like and foldable base 2 is intended to be welded to a flexible container illustrated below, in the manner that will be better shown below, and has a first substantially central portion 2a and a second portion 2b or peripheral portion that can be sealed to the flange 6 of the pourer body 3. In addition, the base 2 has a through hole 11 coaxial with the channel 8 inside the collar 5 and a plurality of lines for bending to facilitate the folding of the base 2, after its application to the container desired flexible, around the sealing surfaces 7 of the flange 6 and the sealing thereto.

In particular, the base 2 has a substantially rectangular shape and has first lines 12 leading to the bending around the hole 11 delimiting the central portion 2 a of the base 2 and having an overall profile substantially equivalent (or corresponding) to the external profile of the flange 6 of the pouring body 3 and second bending lead lines 13 located externally to the profile defined by the first bend lead lines 12 in the portion 2b of the base 2 that can be sealed to the flange 6 along the respective sealing surfaces 7.

Advantageously, the first bending lead lines 12 are formed externally and close to the orthogonal projection of the flange 6 on the base 2, so that this orthogonal projection is located in the central portion 2a of the base 2 delimited by the first bending lead lines 12 , as shown in particular in figure 4.

In the present non-limiting embodiment, the second bending lead lines 13 extend longitudinally and / or transversely from the first seal lead lines 12 until they substantially reach the edges of the base 2.

The base 2 further comprises third bending lead lines 14 located in the portion 2a of the base 2 inside the profile defined by the first bending lead lines 12. In the present embodiment, these third folding lead lines extend substantially transversely between opposite first fold lead lines 12.

As far as the channel 8 inside the collar 5 is concerned, it must be said that it is internally provided with a thread 28 along a short axial length to rotatably engage the spout 22 as will be better clarified hereinafter; moreover, a pair of annular reliefs, namely an upper annular relief 29a and a lower annular relief 29b, is provided inside the collar 5, said annular reliefs constituting the upper limit switch for the movement of the spout 22 and interacting, in the manner that will be better explained in the following, with a corresponding annular relief (ring) 29c formed on the spout 22 above the threaded portion 28.

In particular, in said upper end-of-stroke position, Fanello 29c of the spout 22 is located between the upper annular relief 29a and the lower annular relief 29b of the collar 5. Furthermore, Fanello 29c of the spout 22 conveniently interacts with the internal walls of the channel. 8 advantageously preventing any leakage of liquids through the channel 8 once the flexible container to which the opening and closing device 1 is applied has been opened (pierced).

As regards the spout 22, it must be said that it comprises a substantially cylindrical body 30 coaxial with respect to the aforementioned X axis and having an upper terminal portion 31 provided with external thread 32 along an axial portion thereof, a lower terminal portion 33 also it is provided with an external thread 34 along an axial portion thereof and an intermediate portion 35 between the upper terminal portion 31 and the lower terminal portion 33 without threading.

The cylindrical body 30 internally has a channel 40 for the passage of a fluid product coaxial with the channel 8 of the collar 5, said channel 40 extending axially along the entire upper terminal portion 31, the lower terminal portion 33 and the intermediate portion 35 and being open to the lower end and to the upper end of the spout 22.

The lower portion 33 of the cylindrical body 30 ends at the bottom with a blade 42 eccentric with respect to the X-X axis to open a flexible container, said blade being obtained by cutting the cylindrical body 30 below along a cutting plane inclined with respect to the X-X axis.

The spout 22 also has a cylindrical skirt 36 formed integrally with it which overhangs the intermediate portion 35 of the cylindrical body 30, the cylindrical skirt 36 being provided at the top with a plurality of teeth 38 in circumferential succession along an annular band 37 and protruding therefrom. and at the bottom of an internal annular recess 39 intended to be coupled substantially by interlocking with the teeth 10 of the collar 5 of the base on the occasion of the first opening of a flexible container to which the opening and closing device 1 is applied.

The cap 4 comprises a head 45 and an annular skirt 46 provided externally with knurls 47 and internally with a thread 48 which, together with the external thread 32 of the upper end portion 31 of the spout 22, forms a thread coupling for the ™ screwing and unscrewing the cap 4 from and onto the spout 22 of the pouring body 3 as needed.

The cap 4 also has a guarantee band consisting of a ring 49 fitted onto the annular skirt 46 and bound to it by means of appropriate bridges (not shown), the ring 49 being internally provided with a plurality of teeth, not shown in and completely conventional, which engage between the teeth 38 of the cylindrical skirt 36 of the intermediate portion 35 of the spout 22 according to a substantially toothed coupling.

In this way, the cap 4 is made integral in rotation with the spout 22 of the pouring body 3.

The spout 22 is rotatably engaged at the bottom in the collar 5 by means of a thread coupling between the external thread 34 of the lower end portion 33 and the internal thread 28 of the channel 8 of the collar 5. In particular, this thread coupling allows a rotary movement of the spout 22 from an upper end position in which the eccentric blade 42 of the lower end portion 31 is located inside the channel 8 in the position of maximum distance of the flexible container to which the opening and closing device 1 is applied , to a lower end-of-stroke position, corresponding to the interlocking engagement of the annular recess 39 with the teeth 10 of the collar 5, in which the eccentric blade 42 goes beyond the hole 11 of the base 2 and is able to pierce said flexible container putting the internal compartment of the container in fluid communication with the pouring body 3 and precisely with the channel 40 of the bc cuccio 22.

Advantageously, the thread 31 of the upper end portion 31 of the spout 22 and the thread 34 of the lower end portion 33 are made in substantially opposite directions. As will be shown below, this advantageously allows the user, upon first opening, to pierce the flexible container to which the opening and closing device 1 is applied, and to subsequently unscrew the cap 4 from the spout 22 by means of a rotary movement in a single direction.

Figures 5-8 show the main steps of the method of applying the opening and closing device 1 to a flexible container and of packaging a fluid product in this flexible container, thereby producing a package according to the invention.

In particular, with reference to figure 5, the method according to the invention first of all provides for the provision of a flexible container, generally indicated with 50, essentially consisting of a bag preferably formed by a single flexible single-layer or multi-layer (composite) sheet of an appropriate food material. It can be formed by way of non-limiting example of a sheet of metallic material, in particular aluminum or a composite sheet comprising a metal and a plastic material for food and / or cardboard or cardboard. Alternatively, it is possible to make the bag 50 with a plurality of sheets of a flexible material such as those indicated above.

In particular, the bag 50 comprises a bottom 51, preferably a gusseted bottom, a first wall 52 and a second wall 53 substantially opposite each other and peripherally sealed at respective first lateral edges 52a and 53a and respective second lateral edges 52b and 53b, and a compartment for containing a fluid, liquid or solid (free-flowing) product inside the first wall 52 and the second wall 53.

The lateral seal between the first wall 52 and the second wall 53 extends from the bottom 51 along the first lateral edges 52a and 53a and the second lateral edges 52b and 53b and ends at an upper end portion 52c of the first wall 52 and a corresponding upper end portion 53c of the second wall 53 terminating at the upper edge 52d of the first wall 52 and the upper edge 53d of the second wall 53 respectively.

In these respective end portions 52c and 53c, the first wall 52 and the second wall 53 are sealed laterally, i.e. in correspondence with the respective first lateral edges 52a and 53a and second lateral edges 52b and 53b, to a bellows element 55 arranged at the upper end of the bag 50 and extending between the upper edge 52d of the first wall 52 and the upper edge 53d of the second wall 53.

Preferably, the bellows element 55 is formed by a folded end portion of one between the first wall 52 and the second wall 53.

However, the bellows element 55 can also be a separate element (for example a separate flexible sheet) applied (i.e. joined) to the flexible sheet or flexible sheets constituting the first wall 53 and the second wall 54 or it can be formed by respective folded portions of the first wall 52 and of the second wall 53 joined together.

In the method according to the invention, the flexible bag 50 is open along a mouth 56 defined between the upper end portions 52c and 53c of the first wall 52 and the second wall 53. In particular, in the present embodiment, this mouth It is defined between the free (ie not yet sealed) upper edge 53d of the second wall 53 and the free end 55a of the bellows element.

At this point, a step is provided for filling the flexible container 50 described above still open with a suitably predetermined quantity of a fluid product 58 by means of a dispenser 59 through tucking 56 (Figure 5).

In the case of sterile or aseptic packaging, this filling step is preceded by a step of sterilizing the flexible container 50 in a conventional manner, for example with hydrogen peroxide.

Once filling is complete, the opening is closed so as to hermetically seal the flexible container 50. This is done by sealing the free end 55a of the bellows element 55 to the free upper edge 53d of the second wall 53, closing in this way the mouth 56, as indicated by the arrows A in figure 6.

At this point, the method according to the invention (figure 7) provides for the step of sealing the opening and closing device 1 with the respective base 2 on the bellows element 55 of the flexible container 50. This is carried out by diverging the upper end portion 52c of the first wall 52 and the upper end portion 53c of the second wall 53 until the bellows element 55 is substantially fully extended (ie along a substantially horizontal plane) and thus sealing the base 2 on the bellows element 55 (figure 7).

Advantageously, in the present embodiment, the sealing of the base 2 on the bellows element 55 is carried out with the aid of two opposed rigid blocks 60 substantially wedge-shaped, said blocks 60 being arranged by means of a reciprocal approaching movement ( arrows B and C of figure 7) in close proximity to the first wall 52 and the second wall 53 respectively just below the upper end portion 52c of the first wall 52 and the upper end portion 53c of the second wall 53.

These blocks 60 each have a substantially horizontal upper surface 61 on which the upper end portion 52c of the first wall 52 and the upper end portion 53c and the second wall 53 are advantageously supported and supported, previously separated from each other during application (for example pressure example) of the base 2 on the bellows element 55 (arrow D in figure 7) thus facilitating and making the sealing of the base 2 to the bellows element 55 more effective.

At this point, the method according to the invention envisages, after having removed the rigid blocks 60 from the first wall 52 and from the second wall 53 (arrows E in figure 8), the step of folding the base 2 with the upper end portion 52c of said first wall 52, the upper end portion 53c of said second wall 53 and with the bellows element 55, to seal at least part of the folded base 2 to the sealing surfaces 7 of the flange 6 of the pouring body 3 of the device 1 (arrows F of figure 8) and to seal together the aforementioned folded end portions 52c and 53c of said first wall 52 and said second wall 53 in end areas of the bellows element 55 not affected by the Coupling with the flange 6 and possibly affected by a residual portion of the base 2 (arrows G in figure 8), thereby obtaining a package 70 according to the invention as shown in figure 9.

Advantageously, the folding of the base 2 around the sealing surfaces 7 of the flange 6 is facilitated by the bending lead lines 12, 13 and 14 described above. In particular, with reference to figures 8a and 8b, the folding of the extended base 2, as shown schematically in figure 8a together with a portion of the pouring body 3 after application of the same on the bellows element 55 (as previously illustrated with reference to figure 7) involves a slight lowering of part of the central portion 2 a of the base 2 in correspondence with opposite peripheral areas not affected by the through hole 11 together with the lowering of the portion of the bellows element 55 sealed in correspondence with these areas, such lowering being facilitated by the third folding lead lines 14 (arrows H of Figure 8b).

Furthermore, the folding of the base 2 involves the raising of the peripheral portion 2b of the base 2 with the upper end portion 52c of said first wall 52, the upper end portion 53c of said second wall 53 and the remaining part of the element bellows 55, this raising being facilitated by the first bending lead lines 12 and by at least part of the second bending lead lines 13 (in particular the longitudinally extended lines 13).

Moreover, thanks to the particular conformation of the bending invitation lines, the base 2 forms, once folded, a pocket whose internal profile is substantially complementary to the external profile of the flange 6, thus making it easier and more precise the sealing of the base 2 to the sealing surfaces 7 of the flange 6 and the sealing of the folded end portions 52c and 53c of said first wall 52 and said second wall 53 in the end areas of the bellows element 55 not affected by the coupling with the flange 6 and possibly affected by a residual portion of the base 2.

To open the package 60 according to the invention (first opening), it is sufficient for the consumer to rotate the cap 4 in a predetermined direction (for example the anticlockwise direction indicated by the arrow H), advantageously gripping the knurls 47 of the cylindrical skirt 46, until reaching the lower end position of the eccentric blade 42 corresponding to the maximum advancement of said blade in the bag 50. This rotation involves the lowering of the spout 22 with the relative blade 42 and of the cap 16 integral with it in rotation with it and the perforation of the bag 50 by the blade 42 in correspondence with the bellows element 55 after the blade 42 has passed through the hole 11 of the base 2. In particular, the lowering of the spout 22 from the ends upper stroke involves the passage of its annular relief 29c below the lower annular relief 29b of the collar 5 (thanks to the force of rotation and the fact that the material constituting the annular projections 29 a and 29b has an adequate elasticity) and ends when the lower limit switch is reached with the locking of the spout 22 to the collar 5 by means of interlocking coupling of the cylindrical shell 36 in correspondence with its internal annular recess 39 with the teeth 10 of the annular band 9.

It should be noted that by virtue of the lowering operated during the packaging of the end areas of the central portion 2 a of the base 2, the portion of the bellows element 55 located in correspondence with the through hole 11 of the base 2 in addition to being in a slightly raised position with respect to these extremity areas is also sufficiently taut, thus facilitating the perforation of the bag 50 by the blade 42.

At this point, continuing the rotation of the cap 4 in the same direction will cause the tearing of the ring 149 constituting the guarantee band and it will be possible to unscrew the cap 4 from the spout 22 thus accessing the contents of the bag 50. The final result of the first opening of the package 60, after unscrewing the cap 4, is shown in figure 10.

It should be noted that the package 1 is also readily resealable since the consumer, at each dispensing of a desired quantity of the fluid product contained in the bag 50, can easily close the package 60 by screwing the cap 4 to the upper terminal portion 31 of the spout 22, the latter being firmly held in position by the interlocking coupling of the cylindrical skirt 36 in correspondence with its internal annular recess 39 with the teeth 10 of the annular band 9.

With reference now to figures 11 and 12, an opening and closing device for flexible containers according to another embodiment of the invention is described. This opening and closing device is globally indicated with 101.

The elements of the opening and closing device 101 which are structurally and / or functionally equivalent to corresponding elements of the opening and closing device 1 described above will be assigned the same reference numbers as the latter increased by 100.

The opening and closing device 101 comprises, as main elements, a plate-like and foldable base 102, a pouring body generally indicated with 103, and a cap 104 coaxially associated with each other along a longitudinal axis X-X.

The pouring body 103 comprises a substantially cylindrical spout 122 formed integrally with the base 102 and extending above it, the spout 122 internally defining a coaxial channel 140 with reference to the aforementioned X-X axis for the passage of a fluid product.

The spout 122 has externally and at a predetermined distance from the base 102, a plate-like flange 106 of predetermined external profile and predetermined thickness along the longitudinal axis X-X, the flange 106 being extended along the entire circumferential perimeter of the spout 122.

In particular, the flange 106 is formed integrally with the spout 122 and has a substantially hexagonal perimeter (or external) profile with opposing appendages 106a and surfaces 107 along its entire perimeter defined by its thickness for sealing the base 102 as will be explained better later in the description.

The spout also has, above the flange 106, a plurality of teeth 138 in circumferential succession and, above the teeth 138, an external thread 132.

The cap 104 comprises a head 145 and an annular skirt 146 provided externally with knurls 147 and internally with a thread 148 which, together with the external thread 132 of the spout 122, forms a thread coupling for screwing and unscrewing the cap cap 104 from and on the spout 122 of the pouring body 103 according to need.

The cap 104 also has a guarantee band constituted by a ring 149 fitted on the annular skirt 146 and bound to it by means of appropriate bridges (not shown), the ring 149 being internally provided with a plurality of teeth, not shown in as well as completely conventional, which engage between the teeth 138 of the spout 22 according to a substantially toothed coupling.

The three-shaped and foldable base 102 is intended to be welded to a flexible container, illustrated below, in the manner that will be better shown below and has a first substantially central portion 102a and a second portion 102b or peripheral portion that can be sealed to the flange 106 of the pouring body 103. In addition, the base 102 has a through hole 111 coaxial with the channel 140 inside the spout 122 and a plurality of lines for bending invitation to facilitate folding of the base 102, after application to the flexible container 150 , around the sealing surfaces 107 of the flange 106 and the sealing thereto.

In particular, the base 102 has a substantially rectangular shape and has first lines 112 leading to the bending around the hole 111 delimiting the central portion 102a of the base 102 and having an overall profile substantially equivalent to the external profile of the flange 106 of the pouring body 103 and second bending lead lines 113 located externally to the profile defined by the first bend lead lines 112 in the portion 102b of the base 102 which can be sealed to the flange 106 along the respective sealing surfaces 107.

Advantageously, the first bending lead lines 112 are formed externally and near the orthogonal projection of the flange 106 on the base 102, so that this orthogonal projection is located in the central portion 102a of the base 2 delimited by the first bending lead lines 112 .

In the present non-limiting embodiment, the second bending lead lines 113 are extended longitudinally and / or transversely from the first seal lead lines 112 until they substantially reach the edges of the base 102.

The base 102 further comprises third bending lead lines 114 located in the portion 102b of the base 102 inside the profile defined by the first bending lead lines 112. In the present embodiment, said third folding lead lines extend substantially transversely between opposite first fold lead lines 112.

Figures 13-15 show the main steps of the method of applying the opening and closing device 101 to a flexible container and of packaging a fluid product in this flexible container to make a package according to the invention.

With reference to figures 13 and 14, the method according to the invention first of all provides for the provision of a flexible container, generally indicated with 150, essentially consisting of a bag preferably formed by a single flexible single-layer or multi-layer (composite) sheet of an appropriate food material. It can be formed by way of non-limiting example of a sheet of metallic material, in particular aluminum or a composite sheet comprising a metal and a plastic material for food and / or cardboard or cardboard. Alternatively, it is possible to make the bag 150 with a plurality of sheets of a flexible material such as those indicated above.

In particular, the bag 150 comprises a bottom 151, preferably gusseted, a first wall 152 and a second wall 153 substantially opposite each other and peripherally sealed at respective first side edges 152a and 153a and respective second side edges 152b and 153b, and a compartment for containing a liquid or solid fluid (free-flowing) product inside the first wall 152 and the second wall 153.

The side seal between the first wall 152 and the second wall 153 extends from the bottom 151 along the first side edges 152a and 153a and the second side edges 152b and 153b and ends at an upper end portion 152c of the first wall 152 and a corresponding upper end portion 153c of the second wall 53 terminating at the upper edge 52d of the first wall 152 and the upper edge 153d of the second wall 153 respectively.

In the method according to the invention, the flexible bag 150 is open along a mouth 156 defined between the upper end portions 152c and 153c of the first wall 152 and of the second wall 153 through which the flexible container 150 is filled with the fluid product desired in a manner similar to what has already been illustrated above with reference to the flexible container 50.

Once the filling has been completed, the opening and closing device 101 is sealed with the respective base 102 on the upper end portions 152c and 153c of the first wall 152 and the second wall 153. This is done by diverging the upper end portion from each other. 152c of the first wall 152 and the upper end portion 153c of the second wall 153 until they extend along a substantially horizontal plane (i.e. substantially forming a flat angle between them) and then applying and sealing the base 102 on the internal surfaces (now a view) of the upper extremity portions 152c and 153c (arrows L in figures 13 and 14).

Advantageously, in the present embodiment, the sealing of the base 102 on the upper end portions 152c and 153c is carried out with the aid of two opposing rigid blocks 160 (shown in broken lines) substantially wedge-shaped, said blocks 160 being arranged by a movement of reciprocal approach in close proximity to the first wall 152 and the second wall 153 respectively slightly below the upper end portion 152c of the first wall 152 and the upper end portion 153c of the second wall 153.

These blocks 160 each have a substantially horizontal upper surface 161 on which the upper end portion 152c of the first wall 152 and the upper end portion 153c and the second wall 153 are advantageously supported and supported, previously separated from each other during application on they (for example by pressure) of the base 102 thereby facilitating and making the sealing of the base 102 more effective.

At this point, the method according to the invention provides, after having removed the rigid blocks 160 from the first wall 152 and from the second wall 153, the step of folding the base 102 with the upper end portion 152c of said first wall 152 and the upper end portion 153c of said second wall 153 (arrows M of Figure 15), to seal at least part of the folded base 102 to the sealing surfaces 107 of the flange 106 of the pouring body 103 and to seal the aforementioned end portions together folded 152c and 153c of said first wall 152 and said second wall 153 in respective end areas not affected by the coupling with the flange 106 and possibly affected by a residual portion of the base 102, thus obtaining a package 170 according to the invention as shown in figure 16.

Advantageously, the folding of the base 102 around the sealing surfaces 107 of the flange 106 is facilitated by the fold-in lines 112, 113 and 114 in a similar manner to what was previously illustrated in relation to the folding of the base 2 of the device 1 described above. . Furthermore, thanks to the particular conformation of these bending lines, the base 102 forms, once folded, a pocket whose internal profile is substantially complementary to the external profile of the flange 106, thus making sealing easier and more precise. of the base 102 to the flange 106 to the sealing surfaces 107 of the flange 106 and the sealing of the folded end portions 152c and 153c of said first wall 152 and said second wall 153 in the respective end areas not affected by the coupling with the flange 106 and possibly affected by a residual portion of the base 102.

To open the package 170 according to the invention (first opening), it is sufficient for the consumer to rotate the cap 104 in a predetermined direction so as to cause the tearing of the ring 149 constituting the guarantee band and the subsequent unscrewing the cap 104 from the spout 122 thus accessing the contents of the bag 150. The final result of the first opening of the package 170, after unscrewing the cap 104, is shown in figure 17.

It should be noted that the package 170 is also readily resealable since the consumer, at each dispensing of a desired quantity of the fluid product contained in the bag 150, can easily close the package 170 by screwing the cap 104 to the spout 22.

Figures 18 and 19 show some of the many possible embodiments of the base of an opening and closing device according to the invention.

In particular, figure 18 shows a plate-like and foldable base 200 completely similar to the base 2 described above from which it differs substantially in that it has a substantially octagonal shape.

Figure 19 instead shows a plate-shaped and foldable base 300 similar to the base 2 described above from which it differs in the absence of the third bending invitation lines 14 and for the fact that the first bending invitation lines 12 define a profile around hole 1 1 substantially elliptical instead of hexagonal as in base 2.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations to the opening and closing device according to the invention described above, all of which however fall within the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. Opening and closing device (1; 101) for a container (50; 150) made of flexible material intended for the packaging of fluid products, the device comprising a pouring body (3; 103) and an element (4; 104) of opening and closing removably associated with said pouring body (3; 103) and being characterized in that it further comprises a substantially plate-like base (2; 102) and shaped so as to be foldable around a perimeter portion (6; 106) having a predetermined external profile of said pouring body (3; 103) and sealable peripherally thereto, said base (2; 102) being intended to be welded below a predetermined portion (55; 152c, 153c) of said flexible container (50; 150) equipped with an opening or opening so as to put said pouring body (3; 103) in fluid communication with the internal volume of said flexible container (50; 150). 2. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pouring body (3; 103) comprises a spout (22; 122) with a predetermined axis for dispensing said fluid product and from the fact that said base (2; 102) is formed in one piece with the pouring body (3; 103) below or at the lower end of said spout (22; 122) and has a hole (11; 111) coaxial with the spout (22; 122) of said pouring body (3; 103). Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said base (2; 102) has at least one bending invitation line to facilitate folding and sealing of the base (2; 102) around the periphery (7; 107) of said portion (6; 106) of predetermined external profile of the pouring body (3; 103). 4. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to claim 3, characterized in that said base (2; 102) comprises first lines (12; 112) for bending invitation having an overall profile substantially equivalent to the external profile of said perimeter portion (6; 106) of the pouring body {3; 103), and second bending lead lines (13; 113) located externally to the profile defined by said first bending lead lines (12; 112). 5. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first lines (12; 1 12) for bending invitation delimit a substantially central portion (2a; 102a) of said base (2; 102) equipped with said coaxial hole (11; 111) and said second lines (13; 113) for bending lead are formed in a peripheral portion (2b; 102b) of the base (2; 102), said peripheral portion (2b; 102b) being sealable to said perimeter portion (6; 106) of a predetermined external profile of the pouring body (3; 103). 6. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said base (2; 102) further comprises third lines of bending invitation located inside the profile defined by said first lines (12; 112) of weakening. 7. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said first lines (12; 112) for bending invitation are formed externally and in proximity to the orthogonal projection of said portion perimeter (6; 106) of the pouring body (3; 103) on the base (2; 102). 8. Opening and closing device (1; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perimeter portion of the pouring body comprises a plate-like flange (6; 106) of predetermined external profile equipped with perimeter surfaces (7; 107) ) of sealing. Opening and closing device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8 characterized in that said base (102) is formed integrally with said spout (122) at the lower end thereof. Opening and closing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said pouring body (3) comprises a collar (5) integrally formed with said base (2), in that said spout (22) is equipped with means (42) for cutting a predetermined portion of said flexible container (50) and by the fact that said spout (22) is also movable in rotation in said collar (5) between a upper limit switch in which said cutting means (42) are located in said collar (5) in the position of maximum distance from the flexible container (50) and a lower limit switch position in which said cutting means (42) are in position of maximum advancement and capable of piercing said predetermined portion of said flexible container (50). 11. Packaging (170) for fluid products comprising a flexible container (150) having a first wall (152) and a second wall (153) opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least part of the respective side edges (152a, 152b; 153 a, 153b), a compartment inside said walls containing a fluid product and an opening and closing device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, said device being sealed with the respective base (102) on the surfaces internal portions (152c, 153c) of the upper end of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153) and said base being folded and possibly sealed around the portion (106) of predetermined external profile of the pouring body (103) and said portions (152c, 153c) at the ends of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153) being folded towards each other and possibly sealed together in areas not affected by coupling with said portion (106) of the pouring body (103) and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base (102). 12. Packaging (70) for fluid products comprising a flexible container (50) having a first wall (52) and a second wall (53) opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least part of the respective lateral edges (52 a, 53 a ; 52b; 53b), a compartment inside said walls containing a fluid product, a bellows element (55) extended between the upper edges (52d; 53d) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) and sealed at least laterally to said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) in correspondence with respective upper end portions (52c; 53c) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53), and a device (1) opening and closing mechanism according to claim 10, said device being sealed with the respective base (2) on said bellows element (55) and said base being folded and possibly sealed around the portion (6) of predetermined external profile of the pouring body ( 3) and said portions of ex tremità (52c; 53c) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) with said bellows element (55) being folded towards each other and possibly sealed together in areas not affected by coupling with said portion (6) of the pouring body (3) and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base (2). 13. Method of packaging a fluid product in a package according to claim 11, the method comprising the steps of: provide a flexible container (150) comprising a first wall (152) and a second wall (153) mutually opposed and laterally sealed except in corresponding end portions (152c; 153c) terminating at the respective upper edges of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153), said container (150) being open along an opening (156) defined between said upper end portions (152c; 153c) of said first wall (152) and said second wall ( 153), providing an opening and closing device (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, filling said open flexible container with a fluid product through said mouth (156), mutually diverge said upper end portions (152c; 153c) of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153) until they extend along a substantially horizontal plane, seal the base (102) of said opening device (101) and closure on the internal surface of said portions (152c, 153c) of extended ends of the first wall (152) and of the second wall (153), folding said base (102) and said extended end portions (152c, 153c) of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153) and sealing said folded base (102) around a portion (106) of predetermined external profile of the pouring body (103) of said opening and closing device (101) and / or sealing together said bent end portions (152c, 153) of said first wall (152) and said second wall (153) in areas of ends not affected by coupling with said portion (106) of the pouring body (103) and possibly affected by a residual portion of said base (2). The method of packaging a fluid product in a package according to claim 12, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a flexible container (50) comprising a first wall (52) and a second wall (53) opposite each other and sealed laterally except in corresponding portions (52c, 53c) of ends terminating at the respective edges (52d , 53d) upper of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53), and a bellows element extended between the upper edges (52d, 53d) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) and sealed at least laterally to said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) in correspondence with said corresponding upper end portions (52c, 53c), said container (50) being open along a mouth (56) defined between said portions (52c , 53c) of the upper extremity of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53), providing an opening and closing device (1) according to claim 10, filling said open flexible container (50) with a fluid product through said mouth (56), seal the facing edges of said mouth (56) so as to hermetically close said flexible container, mutually diverge said upper end portions (52c, 53c) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) until said bellows element (55) extends along a substantially horizontal plane, sealing the base (2) of said opening and closing device (1) on said bellows element (55), folding said base (2) and said end portions (52c, 53c) of said first wall (52) and of said second wall (53) with said bellows element (55) and sealing said folded base (2) around a portion (6) of a predetermined external profile of the pouring body (3) of said opening and closing device (1) and / or sealing together said folded end portions (52c, 53c) of said first wall (52) and said second wall (53) in areas of the bellows element not affected by its connection with said portion (6) of the pouring body (3) and possibly affected by a residual portion of the base (2).