AU2006255845B2

AU2006255845B2 - Device for filling of a container of collapsible type

Info

Publication number: AU2006255845B2
Application number: AU2006255845A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stefan Forss; Lennart Friberg; Per Gustafsson; Rikard Wiren
Original assignee: Ecolean AB
Current assignee: Ecolean AB
Priority date: 2005-06-08
Filing date: 2006-06-02
Publication date: 2009-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-02
Also published as: EP1888408B1; EP1888408A1; CA2610259A1; HUE028776T2; BRPI0611180B1; CN101193799A; HK1123781A1; ES2573673T3; NZ563479A; DK1888408T3; KR101309539B1; AU2006255845A1; SE528731C2; JP4890542B2; CN100532203C; JP2008543678A; MX2007015568A; WO2006132578A1; UA91227C2; SE0501320L

Description

1 DEVICE FOR FILLING OF A CONTAINER OF COLLAPSIBLE TYPE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for filling a container of a collapsible 5 type with a product in the form of powder or liquid, and more specifically such a device which comprises a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable into a filling duct of the container to supply a product to the compartment of the container through said filling tube. 10 Backqround Art A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. 15 Many different types of container to be filled with products in the form of liquid or powder are currently available. One type of container is collapsible and comprises two flexible side walls and a bottom wall, which walls are interconnected along a connecting portion to form a compartment whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls. 20 This type of container can, before filling, be in a plane and sealed state. This makes it possible to sterilise the compartment of the container in connection with manufacture and, with maintained sterility, distribute the container to a filling plant, such as a dairy. A container of the type described above is disclosed in W099/41155 which 25 also discloses a device for filling the container. Said device comprises a nozzle which is insertable into a filling duct of the container, said filling duct being opened by cutting or a similar operation in connection with filling of the container. During the actual filling process, said nozzle is thus inserted into the filling duct, 30 after which a product valve is opened to supply the desired product quantity to the compartment of the container through said SPEC-8i5973.doc WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 2 nozzle. The compartment will then take a volume which substantially corresponds to the volume of the supplied product. The filling process ensures that penetration of air into the compartment is prevented or at least 5 minimised. The filling device disclosed in W099/41155 comprises more specifically a nozzle which is made of an elastic material, such as silicone rubber. The nozzle has an end portion which tapers towards an outlet in the form a gap 10 in the lower end surface of the end portion. The nozzle is self-closing, which means that the edge portions which define said gap engage each other in the absence of application of outer forces. During the filling process, the nozzle is, as 15 mentioned above, inserted into the filling duct of the container, after which the product is supplied to the compartment through said nozzle. The product pressure will act to open the nozzle and at the same time to establish a seal between the nozzle and the walls of the 20 filling duct to ensure that air does not penetrate into the container. Increasing demands are placed on the efficiency of filling devices of the type described above and, thus, also on the speed at which the device allows filling of 25 an individual container. Faster filling can be achieved with an increased product flow velocity, which results in a higher product pressure. It has been found that an increased product pressure may in some cases result in the product being 30 pressed out of the compartment of the container between the nozzle and the walls of the filling duct. For obvious reasons, this causes problems in maintaining a hygienic environment in the filling device. There is thus a need for a filling device which 35 allows efficient and rational filling of containers of a collapsible type.

3 Summary of the Invention In view of that stated above, it would be desirable to provide a device for filling containers of a collapsible type, which device allows fast filling under hygienic conditions. 5 According to the present invention, there is provided a device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a product in the form of powder or liquid, said container having a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls and which communicates with the surroundings through a filling duct of the container, including: 10 a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable into said filling duct of the container to supply a product to the compartment of the container through said filling tube, the device further including: an end element, which is arranged in an outlet of the end portion and which is 15 movable between a first position, in which the end element sealingly connects to said outlet, and a second position, in which the end element together with the outlet defines a filling passage, and a squeezing means, which is adapted to grasp the end portion and the filling duct when said end portion is inserted into said filling duct to establish a seal between ?0 the end portion and the filling duct, said end portion of the filling tube being made of a rigid material. The inventive device ensures that a container of a collapsible type can be filled in a short time without the risk of the product escaping from the container. As mentioned above, the filling passage is defined by the end element when 25 the end element is in its second position. This makes it possible to provide a relatively C:\pof\.or\SPEC-815973 doc WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 4 large area of the filling passage, which in turn allows a rapid filling process. The filling passage can be arranged to have the shape of a circumferential gap. At the same time the squeezing means ensures that 5 the product cannot escape from the container during said filling process. To this end, the squeezing means is arranged to grasp the end portion of the filling tube and the filling duct. In one embodiment, said end element is supported by 10 a piston rod arranged in said filling tube, in which case the end element can be movable between said first and second position by axial displacement of said piston rod. A bevel may be arranged adjacent to the connection between said piston rod and said end element. This 15 ensures that the product flowing out of the filling tube through the filling passage is allowed to flow over the end element relatively unimpededly. In another embodiment, said end element supports an O-ring, which in the first position of the end element 20 engages the outlet. This ensures that the end element in said first position sealingly connects to the outlet. In a further embodiment, the end element may have a shape tapering from the filling tube. This makes it possible to facilitate the insertion of the end portion 25 of the filling tube into the filling duct of the container. The end element may have the shape of a wedge, in which case a base of the end element can be circular or have the shape of a convex lens, also referred to as a convex-convex lens. 30 In yet another embodiment, said end portion of the filling tube can be made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel. Furthermore the squeezing means may comprise elastic engaging surfaces which are arranged to grasp said filling duct and said end portion. As a 35 result, the squeezing means can be made to carefully grasp the end portion and the filling duct while at the same time a reliable seal is established.

WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 5 In a further embodiment, said end element has a liquid-repellent surface. This makes it possible to minimise dripping and depositing of product on the walls of the filling duct. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an inventive device. Figs 2 a-b are schematic perspective views which illustrate a method for filling a container by means of an inventive device. 15 Figs 3 a-b are schematic cross-sectional views which illustrate the operation of an end element of the inventive device during the method for filling shown in Figs 2 a-b. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of one 20 embodiment of an end element. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of an end element. Description of Embodiments 25 The present invention relates to a device for filling a container of a collapsible type. A container of this type may comprise two opposite side walls and a bottom wall, which walls are inter connected along a connecting portion and define a 30 compartment whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls. A filling duct of the container, which filling duct can be defined by said side walls, makes its compartment communicate with surroundings. In the unfilled state of the container, the filling duct can 35 be sealed, in which case the duct is opened before filling. This makes it possible to ensure in a simple way WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 6 that containers with sterile compartments are used in the inventive device. Fig. 1, to which reference is now made, illustrates an embodiment of an inventive device 1 for filling the 5 above described container. The device 1 comprises as main components a filling tube 2, a squeezing means 3 and an end element 4. The filling tube 2 is connected to a source (not shown) for the product that is to be supplied to the 10 container and is terminated with an end portion 5. The end portion 5 has an outlet 6. The end element 4 is arranged in the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 and is movably arranged between a first position, in which the end element 4 sealingly connects 15 to said outlet 6, as shown in Fig. 1, and a second position, in which the end element 4 together with said outlet 6 defines a filling passage 7, which is shown in Fig. 3b. In the embodiment shown, said filling passage 7 takes the shape of a circumferential gap, but it will be 20 appreciated that other shapes are conceivable. The end element 4 supports a seal 8 in the form of an 0-ring. In the first position of the end element 4, said O-ring engages the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 to ensure that the end element 4 sealingly connects to said 25 outlet 6. The end element 4 is supported by a piston rod 9 arranged centrally in said filling tube 2. The piston rod 9 is axially movable by means of a suitably designed arrangement, and by moving said piston rod 9 in the axial 30 direction, said end element 4 is thus movable between said first and second position. In the embodiment illustrated, the squeezing means 3 comprises a pair of jaws 10, which are arranged to grasp the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2. 35 The end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel, and the pair of jaws 4 have elastic engaging surfaces 11.

WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 7 Figs 2a and b, to which reference is now made, illustrate the method for filling a container 12. As shown in Fig. 2a, a container 12 is first positioned under the inventive device 1. The filling duct 5 13 of the container 12 has been opened by cutting or a similar operation, whereby the compartment of the container 12 communicates with the surroundings through said filling duct 13. The positioning of containers can be performed in 10 various ways, for instance by means of an arrangement of laterally movable gripping means, from which the containers are suspended (not shown). In Fig. 2b, the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is inserted into the filling duct 13 of the container 12 15 with the end element 4 in its first position. The squeezing means 3 has been activated so that its pair of jaws 10 grasps the end portion 5 and thus also the filling duct 13. Since the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is made of a rigid material while the engaging 20 surfaces 11 of the pair of jaws 10 are elastic, a reliable seal is established between said filling duct 13 and said end portion 5, which does not risk damaging the side walls of the container 1, which define said filling duct 13. 25 As mentioned above, the end element 4 is in its first position when the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is inserted into the filling duct 13 of the container 1, which is shown more distinctly in Fig. 3a. When the squeezing means 3 has been activated so 30 that its pair of jaws 10 grasps the filling duct 13 and the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2, the end element 4 can be moved to its second position, which is shown in Fig. 3b. The product will then flow out of the thus defined filling passage 7 and into the compartment of the 35 container 12. During the filling process, the compartment of the container 12 will be expanded in response to the entering product like a balloon which is being inflated.

WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 8 The seal provided by the squeezing means 3 ensures that products cannot be pressed out of the container 12 between the filling duct 13 and the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2. 5 The filling process is terminated by the end element 4 again being moved to its first position, after which the pair of jaws 10 of the squeezing means 3 is opened and the end portion 5 is pulled out of the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Subsequently the filling duct 13 10 can be sealed in a suitable manner, for instance by a heat sealing process. It will be appreciated that the time required for filling a container 12 with the product in question is dependent on the flow velocity of the product and also 15 the area of the filling passage 7. Since the end element 4 is movable between said first and second position, said area can be adjusted as desired, by moving the end element 4 to a suitable position between said first and second position. In particular, the inventive device 1 20 makes it possible to provide a relatively large area of the filling passage 7, which for obvious reasons has a positive effect on the filling time of a container 1. In the current context it should be noted that the squeezing means 3 ensures that the rapid filling of the container 25 12 can be performed without the product escaping from the compartment of the container 12. The end element 4 can be designed in various ways and be given a shape tapering from the filling tube 2 in order to facilitate the insertion of the end portion 5 of 30 the filling tube 2 into the filling duct 13 of the container 12. The end element 4 shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upper part 14 and a lower part 15 in the shape of a tapering wedge, which is to be seen more clearly in Fig. 4. 35 The upper part 14 has been given a shape which substantially corresponds to the shape of a convex lens.

WO 2006/132578 PCT/SE2006/000650 9 The upper part 14 further has a central through hole 16, which is enclosed by a bevel 17. As mentioned above, the lower part 15 has the shape of a tapering wedge. The upper side of the lower part 15 5 thus forms a base which has a shape which, similarly to the upper part 14, substantially corresponds to the shape of a convex lens. A peripheral groove 18 is formed in the upper side of the lower part. Finally, a central, threaded non-through hole 19 is formed in said lower part 10 15. The piston rod 9 has a connecting portion 22 provided with a thread 20 and a stop lug 21. To connect the end element 4 to the piston rod 9, the connecting portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is inserted through the 15 hole 16 in the upper part 14 until the upper part is made to engage said stop lug 21. Then the connecting portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is screwed into the threaded hole 19 of the lower part 15. A seal 8 in the form of an 0 ring is arranged in the peripheral groove 18 of the lower 20 part 15, which 0-ring thus will be squeezed against the upper part 14. The O-ring ensures, as described above, that the end element 4, when in said first position, sealingly connects to the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2. 25 An end element 4 formed in the manner described above thus has a shape which facilitates the insertion of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 into the filling duct 13. An opening means (not shown) can be arranged for initial separation of the walls of the filling duct 13. 30 This opening means may comprise suction cups which stick to the respective duct walls, which suction cups are then separated for separation of the duct walls. The bevel 17 which encloses the hole 16 formed in the upper part 14 ensures that the product flowing out of 35 the filling tube 2 through the filling passage 7 is allowed to flow over the end element 4 relatively unimpededly. This eliminates, or in any case reduces, the 10 tendency of the product flowing out to impinge on the upper side of the end element and be deflected upwards or sideways. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the shown embodiment. 5 For example, the end element 4 may have a liquid-repellent surface. This minimises the risk of dripping and depositing of product on the walls of the filling duct 13 after completion of the filling and removal of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 from the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Of course, this helps to maintain good hygienic conditions in connection with the filling process. 10 To prevent the product from depositing on the walls of the filling duct 13 in connection with removal of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2, this can alternatively be dimensioned in such a manner relative to the filling duct 13 that removal of the end portion 5 is allowed without contact with the walls of the filling duct 13. It is also conceivable to give the end element 4 a different shape. It can thus be 15 in the shape of a tapering wedge with a circular base, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The round base shape results in the product, when flowing over the end element 4, having a symmetric flow pattern, thereby making it possible to completely eliminate the tendency of the product flowing out to be deflected upwards or sideways. Several modifications and variations are thus feasible, which means that the ?0 present invention is exclusively defined by the appended claims. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives or components or integers. 25 C:\oof rdonSPEC-815973 doc

Claims

1. A device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a product in the form of powder or liquid, said container having a compartment which is defined by flexible 5 walls and whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls and which communicates with the surroundings through a filling duct of the container, including: a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable into said filling duct of the container to supply a product to the compartment of the container through said filling tube, 0 the device further including: an end element, which is arranged in an outlet of the end portion and which is movable between a first position, in which the end element sealingly connects to said outlet, and a second position, in which the end element together with the outlet defines a filling passage, and 5 a squeezing means, which is adapted to grasp the end portion and the filling duct when said end portion is inserted into said filling duct to establish a seal between the end portion and the filling duct , said end portion of the filling tube being made of a rigid material. .0

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said filling passage has the shape of a circumferential gap.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said end element is supported by a piston rod arranged in said filling tube. 25

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the end element is movable between said first and second position by axial movement of said piston rod.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which a bevel is arranged adjacent to 30 the connection between said piston rod and said end element.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said end element supports a seal, which when the end element is arranged in said first position engages the outlet. C:\pofwd\SPEC-815973.doc 12

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the end element has a shape tapering from the filling tube. 5

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the end element has the shape of a wedge.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the end element has a circular base. 0

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the end element has a base in the shape of a convex lens.

11. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which said material is stainless steel. 5

12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said squeezing means includes elastic engaging surfaces which are arranged to grasp said filling duct and said end portion.

13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said end !0 element has a liquid-repellent surface.

14. A device for filling a container according to any one of the embodiments, substantially as herein described and illustrated. C:\poftwrd\SPEC-815973.doc