AU693554B2 - Bag puncturing means - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 Il Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 CO1MPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

NOTICE

I. Tho specification should describe the invention in full and the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

2. The specif ication should be typed on as many shoets of good quality A4 Internationai size paper as ara necessary and Inserted Inside this form.

3. The claims defining the invention must start on a new page. If there is insufficient space on this form for the claims, use separate sheets of paper.

The words -The claims defining the invention are as follows" should appear before claim 1. After the claims the date and the name of the applicant should appear in block letters.

4. This form must be accompanied by a true and exact copy ef the description, claims and drawings (if any) and an additional copy of the claims, (see Pamphlets explaining formal requirements of specifications and drawings) TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 00 Robert G. HALLIDAY Address for Service: Patent Atorney 44 Ashley Street, Hornsby, N.S.W. 2077 BiAG PUNCTURING N4EANS InVention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Applications; Nos: "ie The following statement Is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to me:- Co 27'"6 28 17JUM95

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-1- BAG PUNCTURING MEANS This invention is concerned with apparatus to allow the discharge of liquid from a c'ontainer.

It is common to transport liquid in a rigid container lined with a liquid impervious plastic bag. The container commonly includes a side discharge port near the bottom of one container side and a discharge means is provided to allow the contents to flow from the liner bag through the discharge means.

It has been found that when the liquid level is close to the bottom of the container during a discharge operation it is not uncommon for the plastic around the discharge opening in the liner bag to be drawn into the opening and this can interrupt the free flow of liquid **from the liner bag. In some instances there is a total interruption of the flow making it almost impossible to completely discharge the liquid.

.oe In order to overcome the problem the liner bag needs to be punctured in a manner which prevents the plastic bag adjacent the puncture entering the discharge means.

This has already been done by linearly forcing a generally circular ring cutter with teeth around a substantial part of -he circumference along the bore of a nozzle welded to the bag. The cutter teeth sever all but a portion of the membrane which covers the bore of -2the nozzle and in so doing forms a discharge opening and a flap which remains connected to the liner by the unsevered membrane portion. The flap is prevented from entering the discharge opening created by the cutte, and is held out of alignment with the discharge opening by a flap retainer whic.n projects through the discharge opening into the interior of the liner bag. The flap retainer also prevents the bag around the discharge opening entering the discharge opening.

The present invention achieves the above conditions by using a cutter which is rotated to perform the cutting operation as distinct from the known 1o arrangement where the movement of the cutter is purely linear.

Broadly stated the invention can be said to provide a bag puncturing means t tfor use with a liquid filled plastic liner bag housed in a container, the liner bag 0 0 O, having a discharge nozzle with an opening there through occluded by a membrane and a threaded portion to which said bag puncturing means can 15 be coupled, said bag puncturing means including a membrane cutter support with a bore extending between ends of the support, a threaded portion at one end of the cutter support for threaded engagement with a liner bag nozzle, a 0 compression spring housed in the bore of the cutter support with a first end of the spring coupled to the cutter support, said spring having a length when uncompressed which results in the second end of the spring and part of the spring extending beyond said one end of said cutter support, a membrane

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I _IIII--_ 3 cutter coupled to the cutter support so as to rotate and move linearly with the cutter support as the cutter support is threaded onto and unthreaded from a bag nozzle, said cutter has a cutting portion which lies beyond said one end of said cutter support and is disposed externally of said spring.

Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a side view of a first form of spring mounted cutter according to the invention, Fig.2 is a second form of spring mounted cutter according to the invention, Fig.3 is a side view of a third form of spring mounted cutter according to the 4 invention, Fig.4 is a side view of a fourth form of spring mounted cutter according to the invention, Fig.5 is a side view of a fifth form of spring mounted cutter according to the 9 15 invention, 99 Fig.6 is a side view of a sixth form of spring mounted cutter according to the 9 9 invention, Fig.7 is a side view of a cutter and spring combination according to the invention, Fig.8 is a front view of a blade cutter according to the invention, Fig 9 is an edge view of the cutter shown in Fig.8, illustrates the cutter of Figs.8 and 9 as initially mounted in a bag nozzle prior to bag -9i T k iL "''iO l 4 puncturing taking place, Fig.ll is a view similar to Fig.10 where the cutter of that arrangement is commencihg to cut the membrane of the liner bag to form a discharge opening, and Fig.12 illustrates the situation after the liner bag membrane has been punctured.

Fig.l shows a compression spring 1 which has a constant diameter for most of its length and has a conical leading end 2 and a clamping coil 3 at its other end.

10 The clamping coil 3 has a greater diameter than the body of the spring 1. A cutter 4 which moves linearly with the compression and decompression of the spring 1 in a bag puncturing operation is welded to the spring.

The position of the cutter 4 is such that even when the spring is substantially compressed, as will be clear from the following description, the cutting end 24 of the cutter 4 will always be in a position to engage the membrane of the liner bag to be punctured.

In Fig.2 the conical leading end 2 of the spring 1 20 terminates in a larger pressure exerting coil Fig.3 illustrates the spring 1 of Fig.2, although it could be of the form shown in Fig.l, around which there is a sleeve 6 provided with a cutter 4. The sleeve is S: welded at 7 to the spring 1.

I 1111111~ 11- 1 111- -CI~ Fig.4 is a modified version of the Fig.3 arrangement where the sleeve 6 is replaced by a curved plate member 8 fitted with a cutter 4 and'welded at 9 to the spring 1.

is a variation of the arrangement shown in Fig.4.

Fig.6 varies from the previous embodiments in that the cutter 4 does not move linearly with the spring during compression/decompression. The cutter 4 has a body of predetermined length and it is welded to the clamping coil 3 of the spring 1.

Fig.7 shows a variation of the Fig.6 arrangement in that the cutter body 10 is replaced by a sleeve 11 provided with a cutter 4. The sleeve 11 slides over the spring body and it is provided with a rear end flange 12 which abuts the clamping coil 3.

Figs.8 and 9 show a variation of the Fig.7 cutter in that a support bar 13 is provided and the bar 13 has an out turned flange 14 at one end to abut the clamping coil 3. The bar 13 is joggled at 15 to provide the 20 cutter 4.

Figs.10,11,12 show the operation of the cutter of the form shown in Figs.8 9. In a typical arrangement there is a container with a side 16 shown in part and 6 provided with a bag nozzle receiving opening 17. The liner bag in the container is identified 18 and the nozzle 19 is welded to the o'utside of the liner bag with the bore of the nozzle covering a membrane forming portion 20 of the liner bag 18.

The bag nozzle 21 has a internal threaded zone 22 to receive a threaded first end of a cutter support 23.

The other end of the cutter support 23 is also threaded and it has a clamping member 24 mounted thereon. The member 24 can be part of a flow control valve, not shown. The spring 1 is housed in the bore 25 of the support 23 and the clamping coil 3 abuts the outer end of the support 3 and is clamped thereagainst by a shoulder 26 'n the bore of the member 24.

It follows that as the support 23 is threaded into the bag nozzle the coil spring 1 and the associated cutter 0*t* will rotate and the leading end coil 5 of the spring 1 will come to rest against the membrane 20. Continued rotation of the support 23 will cause the spring 1 to a 20 be compressed and the pressure on the membrane 20 to increase.

Eventually the cutter 4 will come into contact with the membrane 20 and the rotation of the cutter after penetration of membrane 20 by the cutter 4 will initiate a cut in the membrane 20. The cut will 1 7 continue as the support 23 is rotated further until the force applied by the spring 1 overcomes the capacity of the connection of the membrahe 20 to the liner bag 18 to resist that force. When this occurs the membrane (now a flap 28) will be thrust into the interior of the liner bag and the configuration of Fig.12 will be achieved. The liquid can now flow freely and the flap 28 is prevented by the spring 1 from blocking the opening through the liner bag 18.

The foregoing are descriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention and it is to be understood that changes can be made to the described arrangements without departing for the inventive concept herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

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Claims (9)

1. A bag puncturing means for use with a liquid filled plastic liner bag housed in a container, the liner bag having a discharge nozzle with an opening there through occluded by a mem:-rane and a threaded portion to which said bag puncturing means can be coupled, said bag puncturing means including a membrane cutter support with a bore extending between ends of the support, a threaded portion at one end of the cutter support for threaded engagement with a liner bag nozzle, a compression spring housed in the bore of the cutter support with a first end of the spring coupled to the cutter support, said spring having a length when uncompressed which results in the second end of the spring and part e of the spring extending beyond said one end of said cutter support, a membrane cutter coupled to the cutter support so as to rotate and move linearly with the S cutter support as the cutter support is threaded onto and unthreaded from a bag nozzle, said cutter has a cutting portion which lies beyond said one end of said 0 Go :t cutter support and is disposed externally of said spring. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane G cutter has an elongated body which extends through said cutter support bore and has at one end of said body a lug by which it is coupled to the cutter support and has at its other end said cutting portion.

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3. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane cutter has an elongated body with two ends, said elongated body extends through the bore of said cutter support, a lug at one end of said elongated body is clamped to the cutter support at the other end of said cutter support thereby to couple the membrane cutter to said cutter support, and said cutting portion is located at the other end of the elongated body of the membrane cutter and includes a radially outwardly offset part which projects beyond said one end of said cutter support.

4. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 3 in which said spring at its first end has an enlarged coil which is held captive between said other end of said e e S cutter support and a clamping means mounted on said cutter support.

5. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane cutter has an elongated body with two ends and said elongated body extends through the bore of said cutter support, the cutting portion of said cutter is located at one end of the elongated body of the membrane cutter and said elongated S body has a lug at its other end, said spring at its first end has an enlarged coil and said lug and said enlarged coil are clamped between said other end of said cutter support and a clamping means mounted on said cutter support. go'Y 119(11*~ lll~ll~ lr9 ll---C I-

6. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane cutter has a tubular body which is disposed in the bore of said cutter support bore and through which said spring passes, said tubular body has flange means at a first end by which said tubular body is coupled to the cutter support and has at its other end said cutting portion.

7. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane cutter has a tubular body disposed in the bore of said cutter support and ttiough which said spring passes, flange means at one end of said tubular body is clamped to the cutter support at the other end of said support thereby to couple the membrane cutter to said cutter support, and said cutting portion is a projection S from the other end of said tubular body. S"

8. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 7 in which said spring at its first end has an enlarged coil which is held captive between said other end of said cutter support and a clamping means mounted on said cutter support.

9. A bag puncturing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane cutter has a tubular body with two ends and said tubular body is disposed in the bore of said cutter support and said spring passes through said tubular body, the cutting portion of said cutter is located at one end of said tubular body and tubular body has flange means at its other end, said spring at its first end has an enlarged coil and said flange means and said enlarged coil are clamped between n5 -11 said other end of said cutter support and a clamping means mounted on said cutter support. A bag puncturing means as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the drawing Figs.7 to 11. Dated this 11th day of May, 1998 TECHNOSEARCH PTY. LIMITED By its Patent Attorney Robert G. Halliday S** S 1-- ab-~ llC31F"ll"-"-- 1 ABSTRACT. A bag puncturing means including a cutter support (23) and a cutter and a compression spring both connected to the cutter support (23) in a manner such that rotation of the cutter support (23) will result in rotation of the cutter and both located in the bore (25) of the cutter support (23) and extending beyond a first end of the cutter support The cutter support (23) is adapted to be connected by screw threading to a nozzle (19) of a container liner (18) thereby to first engage a leading end of the spring with a membrane (20) covering the bore of the nozzle then compress the spring then force the cutter against the membrane (20) to puncture and partially cut a flap (28) from the membrane and thereby release the spring which will expand into the interior of the liner (18) to prevent the flap (28) from entering the bore of the nozzle (19). *eoe o *o•