CN217436532U - Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products - Google Patents

Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products Download PDF

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Publication number
CN217436532U
CN217436532U CN202123400139.XU CN202123400139U CN217436532U CN 217436532 U CN217436532 U CN 217436532U CN 202123400139 U CN202123400139 U CN 202123400139U CN 217436532 U CN217436532 U CN 217436532U
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China
Prior art keywords
container
closure
flow restriction
attachment mechanism
dispensing device
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CN202123400139.XU
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
S·劳特
赵光涛
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El Novo SA
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El Novo SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
    • B65D83/0427—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation the articles being dispensed by inverting the container each time, by which action movable parts may be displaced by their own weight
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/28—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials
    • B65D51/30—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials for desiccators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B17/00—Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0214—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity
    • B65D43/022—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/243—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes combined with an opening device
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/26—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with means for keeping contents in position, e.g. resilient means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/28—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials
    • B65D51/2807—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container
    • B65D51/2814—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
    • B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
    • B65D81/266—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants
    • B65D81/268—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package

Abstract

A dispensing device (1) comprising a container (2), a flow restriction (4) and a closure (6), the dispensing device (1) comprising: -a first attachment mechanism between the tubular portion (22) of the container (2) and the tubular portion (41) of the flow restriction (4), the first attachment mechanism being homogenous over the circumference of the tubular portion of the container and the tubular portion of the flow restriction, and-a second attachment mechanism between the tubular portion (41) of the flow restriction (4) and the tubular portion (62) of the closure (6), the second attachment mechanism being homogenous over the circumference of the tubular portion of the flow restriction and the tubular portion of the closure, wherein a ratio of a holding force of the first attachment mechanism to a holding force of the second attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 2.

Description

Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products
Technical Field
The utility model relates to a distributor for storing and distributing unit product. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling and filling a dispensing device.
Background
Multi-piece dispensing devices are known for the storage and dispensing of unit products, the multi-piece dispensing device comprising several pieces, each piece having a dedicated function. Typically, the dispensing device may comprise a container for storing units of product, a flow restrictor adapted to dispense the stored product unit by unit, and a closure for reclosably closing the container. One of the drawbacks of the multi-piece dispensing device is that it is difficult to control the sealing of the device due to the multiple sealing interfaces. This is particularly challenging for dispensing devices intended to receive sensitive products, such as food products, nutritional products, pharmaceutical products or diagnostic products, which require control of their internal atmosphere, for example in terms of humidity level, oxygen level, etc., in order to preserve the sensitive products stored in the device.
The present invention more particularly aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a dispensing device that makes it possible to have a controlled and predictable seal in order to ensure a targeted shelf life of the unit product stored in the device, while also providing the possibility of controlled dispensing of the unit product.
SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL
To this end, according to a first aspect, the subject of the present invention is a dispensing device for storing and dispensing a unit of product, the dispensing device comprising a container, a flow restriction and a closure, the dispensing device comprising:
-a first attachment mechanism between the tubular portion of the container and the tubular portion of the flow restriction, the first attachment mechanism being homogenous over the circumference of the tubular portions of the container and the flow restriction, and
a second attachment mechanism between the tubular portion of the flow restriction and the tubular portion of the closure, the second attachment mechanism being homogenous over the circumference of the tubular portions of the flow restriction and the closure,
wherein the ratio of the holding force of the first attachment mechanism to the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 2, the holding force of the first attachment mechanism being defined as the opening force required to detach the flow restriction from the container when the flow restriction is assembled with the closure by the second attachment mechanism, the holding force of the second attachment mechanism being defined as the opening force required to detach the closure from the flow restriction when the flow restriction is assembled with the container by the first attachment mechanism, wherein the holding force of the first attachment mechanism and the holding force of the second attachment mechanism each use a longitudinal axis (X) parallel to the respective tubular portion at a given opening speed of 150mm/min (X) 1 ) The opening force applied is determined.
According to one feature of the invention, the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is selected to be greater than or equal to 15N.
According to a feature of the invention, the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is selected to be less than or equal to 55N, preferably less than or equal to 40N.
According to a feature of the invention, the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is selected to be in the range between 15N and 55N, preferably in the range between 15N and 40N.
Within the scope of the present invention, an attachment mechanism is said to be homogenous over the circumference of the tubular portions of the two parts of the dispensing device it is effective to have, when the holding force of the attachment mechanism is substantially the same regardless of the relative angular orientation of the two parts. In other words, such homogenous attachment mechanisms are evenly distributed over the circumference of the tubular portions of the two components, and the opening force applied parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portions of the two components, required to detach the two components from each other, is substantially the same, regardless of the angular position of the point at which the opening force is applied on the circumference of said tubular portions. As a non-limiting example, such a homogenous attachment mechanism may comprise a continuous snap fastening means, such as a groove and a complementary protruding ring or protrusion, completely surrounding the tubular portions of the two parts of the dispensing device, or it may comprise a plurality of discrete retention elements regularly distributed over the circumference of the tubular portions of the two parts.
The dispensing device according to the present invention ensures a high level of sealing between the three parts of the dispensing device due to its specific structure with a controlled difference in the holding force between the first and second attachment mechanism. This is particularly important for dispensing devices intended to receive sensitive products and comprising active materials for regulating the atmosphere inside the device. For example, the sensitive product may be a food product, a nutritional product, a pharmaceutical product, or a diagnostic product, and the active material capable of regulating the atmosphere in the device may be a moisture absorbent or an oxygen scavenger. The sealing of such dispensing devices with a controlled atmosphere, as indicated by their Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR), is critical to achieving the desired shelf life of the sensitive product stored in the device.
It has been observed that when the holding force ratio of the first and second attachment mechanisms is selected to be within the scope of the present invention and the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is selected to be in the range between 15N and 55N, preferably in the range between 15N and 40N, the sealing characteristics of a three-piece dispenser device having two sealing interfaces are substantially equivalent to the sealing characteristics of a two-piece device having a single sealing interface comprising only a container and a closure. Thus, a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention (which dispensing device has a holding force ratio within the scope of the invention and a holding force of the second attachment mechanism in the range between 15N and 55N, preferably in the range between 15N and 40N) makes it possible to preserve sensitive unit products stored in the device while providing flow reducing characteristics for the dispensing of unit products and allowing the user to easily open the closure.
The holding force ratios within the scope of the present invention are also applicable to methods of assembling dispensing devices comprising first pre-assembling the flow restriction and closure, and then assembling the container with the pre-assembled flow restriction and closure. This assembly sequence is advantageous in that the pre-assembly of the flow restriction and closure can be performed by the manufacturer of the components of the dispensing device, whereas the assembly of the container with the pre-assembled flow restriction and closure can be performed on the packaging line after the step of filling the container with the unit product. Thus, the assembly of the dispensing device can be completed in a single step on a packaging line using conventional packaging equipment.
In order to achieve a high level of sealing between the three components of the dispensing device, a fundamental parameter is that a sufficient contact pressure must be maintained at the interface between the closure and the restriction and at the interface between the restriction and the container. In particular, when the closure is pre-assembled with the flow restrictor, and the pre-assembled flow restrictor and closure are stored for a longer period of time prior to use to seal the container, the pre-assembled flow restrictor and closure tend to "conform" to one another during storage, thereby producing dimensional changes, including an increase in the outer diameter of the flow restrictor and a decrease in the diameter of the sealing skirt of the closure. This reduces the contact pressure at the interface between the closure and the restriction, thereby reducing the quality of the seal at this interface. The same is true of the interface of the restriction with the container, which is also required to maintain sufficient contact pressure.
The utility model discloses the people have found that by setting the holding force ratio of second attachment mechanism to be greater than 1.5 and the holding force to be between 15N and 55N, preferably between 15N and 40N, the sealing characteristics of a three-piece dispenser device with two sealing interfaces are substantially equal to the sealing characteristics of a two-piece device with a single sealing interface comprising only a container and a closure. The selected range of retention forces of the second attachment mechanism allows for the desired seal quality to be achieved while still maintaining the ergonomics of use.
In the context of the present invention, the active material for atmosphere (atmosphere) regulation may be received in a canister that falls into the container of the dispensing device. As a variant, the active material for atmosphere conditioning may be received in a chamber defined in the closure of the dispensing device. Within the meaning of the present invention, an active material is a material that is capable of regulating the atmosphere in a device. The active material may be any type of active material. In particular, the active material may belong to the group of: a moisture absorbent (or desiccant); an oxygen scavenger; an odor absorbent; and/or emitters of humidity or volatile olfactory organic compounds. Alternatively, the active material may be capable of releasing a gaseous substance, such as moisture or a fragrance. Such characteristics may be useful, for example, for applications where a sensitive product requires a particular humidity level. Such products are for example powders, in particular for the production of aerosols, gelatin capsules, herbal medicines, gels and creams including cosmetics, and foodstuffs.
Examples of suitable dehydrating agents include, but are not limited to, silica gel, dehydrated clay, activated alumina, calcium oxide, barium oxide, natural or synthetic zeolites, molecular sieves or similar sieves, or deliquescent salts such as magnesium sulfide, calcium chloride, aluminum chloride, lithium chloride, calcium bromide, zinc chloride, and the like. Preferably, the dehydrating agent is a molecular sieve and/or a silica gel.
Examples of suitable oxygen collectors include, but are not limited to, metal powders with reducing power, in particular iron, zinc, tin powders, metal oxides still with oxidizing power, in particular ferrous oxide, and iron compounds, such as carbides, carbonyl compounds, hydroxides, used alone or in the presence of the following activators: such as hydroxides, carbonates, sulfites, thiosulfates, phosphates, organic acid salts, or alkali or alkaline earth metal hydrogenates, activated carbon, activated alumina, or activated clays. Other agents for trapping oxygen may also be selected from specific reactive polymers, such as those described in, for example, patent documents US 5,736,616A, WO 99/48963a2, WO 98/51758a1 and WO 2018/149778 a 1.
According to one embodiment, the flow restriction and the closure are made of a polymer-based material, the polymer-based material of the closure having a tensile modulus that is strictly lower than the tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the flow restriction. Selecting a polymer-based material for the flow restriction that is harder than the polymer-based material of the closure member allows for limiting expansion of the flow restriction under stresses generated by the closure member, thereby maintaining sufficient contact pressure at the interface of the closure member and the flow restriction member.
According to one embodiment, the flow restriction and the closure are made of a polyolefin based material, the polyolefin of the flow restriction and the closure being the same and selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, the polyolefin based material of the closure having a tensile modulus strictly lower than the tensile modulus of the polyolefin based material of the flow restriction. Selecting the same polyolefin for the flow restriction and the closure, but with different grades, makes the material of the flow restriction harder than the material of the closure, facilitating the closure to open in an ergonomic manner by minimizing friction that may exist in case of contact between two strictly identical materials.
According to one embodiment, the container is made of a polymer-based material having a tensile modulus greater than or equal to a tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the flow restriction. Selecting a polymer-based material for the container that is harder than the polymer-based material of the flow restriction may limit expansion of the container under stresses created by the flow restriction, thereby maintaining sufficient contact pressure at the interface between the flow restriction and the container.
According to one embodiment, the container is made of a polyolefin-based material, the polyolefin being selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, the polyolefin-based material of the container having a tensile modulus greater than or equal to the tensile modulus of the polyolefin-based material of the flow restriction. Here again, the same polyolefin but with a different grade is chosen for the container and the restriction so that the material of the container is harder than the material of the restriction to minimize friction effects.
According to a feature of the invention, the Melt Flow Index (MFI) of the polymer-based material of the closure is higher than the Melt Flow Index (MFI) of the polymer-based material of the Flow restriction. By way of non-limiting example, a suitable choice of the constituent materials of the components of the dispensing device according to the invention may be that the container uses polypropylene; and the flow restrictor and closure use low-density polyethylene (LDPE), wherein the LDPE formulation for the closure is selected to have a higher Melt Flow Index (MFI) than the LDPE formulation for the flow restrictor.
According to a feature of the invention, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the dispensing device comprising the assembled container, flow restriction and closure is less than or equal to 1.2 times the WVTR measured alone for the same container sealed in a moisture-tight manner.
According to a feature of the invention, the detachment of the first attachment mechanism involves friction between an inner contact surface of the container and an outer contact surface of the flow restrictor, wherein the deformation of the detachment of the first attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 1%, the deformation of the detachment of the first attachment mechanism being defined as the ratio of: the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface of the container and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction on the one hand, and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction on the other hand, wherein the circumference values are taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction is detached from the container and assembled with the closure by means of the second attachment mechanism.
According to a feature of the invention, the detachment of the second attachment mechanism involves friction between an inner contact surface of the flow restriction and an outer contact surface of the closure, wherein the deformation of the detachment of the second attachment mechanism is less than or equal to 2.5%, the deformation of the detachment of the second attachment mechanism being defined as the ratio of: the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure on the one hand, and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure on the other hand, wherein the circumference values are taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction is detached from the closure and assembled with the container by means of the first attachment means.
According to one embodiment, the first attachment mechanism comprises an interference press fit between the container and the flow restrictor and a snap fastening connection comprising an inner snap fastening member of the container and a complementary outer snap fastening member of the flow restrictor.
According to one feature, the internal snap fastening member of the container has a retaining surface forming a hard point for the detachment of the snap fastening member, and this retaining surface is advantageously inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion of the container by an angle greater than or equal to 15 °, preferably greater than or equal to 20 °.
According to one embodiment, the second attachment means consists of an interference press fit between the flow restrictor and the closure, in particular without any snap-fastening connection. In this embodiment, a retention force of at least 15N of the second attachment mechanism may be obtained without undercuts to retain the closure, i.e. by a smooth inner surface of the flow restrictor, without any retaining means. In particular, in this embodiment, the sealing may be achieved between two planes, i.e. between facing surfaces of the flow restriction and the closure, or preferably between lines and planes, for example in the case of protrusions on at least one of the facing surfaces of the flow restriction and the closure.
According to another embodiment, the second attachment mechanism comprises both an interference press fit between the flow restrictor and the closure and a snap fastening connection comprising an inner snap fastening member of the flow restrictor and a complementary outer snap fastening member of the closure.
According to one feature, the internal snap fastening means of the flow restrictor has a retention surface forming a hard point for the detachment of the second snap part, and this retention surface is advantageously inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion of the flow restrictor by an angle less than or equal to 20 °, preferably less than or equal to 15 °.
According to one feature, the first attachment mechanism is configured such that the force required to assemble the container with the subassembly comprising the flow restrictor and the closure preassembled by the second attachment mechanism has a predetermined value below a given threshold value, which allows automatic assembly of said subassembly with the container on a packaging line.
According to one feature, the subassembly comprising the flow restrictor and closure preassembled by the second attachment mechanism is configured to be assembled with the container by simple displacement of the first attachment mechanism via the subassembly and the container towards each other in the direction of the aligned longitudinal axes of the tubular portion of the flow restrictor and the tubular portion of the container.
In one embodiment, the closure comprises a chamber for an active material intended to control the atmosphere within the container, a sidewall of the chamber forming a contact surface of the closure which is part of the second attachment mechanism and which is configured to frictionally engage with a corresponding contact surface of the flow restriction. In this embodiment, the maximum circumference of the contact surface of the closure may be determined by the filling rate of the cavity with active material. Thus, an adjustment of the holding force of the second attachment mechanism may be obtained by adjusting the amount of active material introduced into the chamber of the closure.
In another embodiment, the closure comprises a chamber for an active material intended to control the atmosphere within the container, a sidewall of the chamber being surrounded by the overseal skirt with a gap therebetween, the overseal skirt forming a contact surface of the closure which is part of the second attachment mechanism and which is configured to friction fit with a corresponding contact surface of the flow restrictor. In this embodiment, the maximum circumference of the contact surface of the closure is independent of the active material fill rate of the chamber and can be adjusted depending on the design of the outer sealing skirt and the mechanical properties of its constituent materials.
According to one feature, each of the three components of the dispensing device (i.e. the container, the flow restriction and the closure) is based on a suitable polymeric material. Examples of suitable polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, free radical or linear high and low density polyethylene, ethylene copolymers such as ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene ethyl acrylate, ethylene butyl acrylate, ethylene maleic anhydride, ethylene alpha-olefins (regardless of the polymerization method or graft modification method), polypropylene, polybutylene, polyisobutylene. For cost reasons and because of ease of use, polyolefins are advantageously selected. However, other polymeric materials, such as polyvinyl chloride; copolymers of vinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene; copolymers of styrene, cellulose derivatives, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyoxymethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, copolyesters, polyphenylene oxide, polymethyl methacrylate; acrylates, fluoride polymers, polyimides, copolymers of polyurethanes, and the like.
Combinations of these polymers may be used if desired. The polymer used to create the three components of the dispensing device (i.e., the container, flow restrictor and closure) may also contain one or more additives such as fibers, bulking agents, additives such as stabilizers and colorants, slip agents, release agents, binders or enhanced collectors and/or any other agents as required by the use.
According to one embodiment, in the assembled configuration of the dispensing device, the first and second attachment mechanisms are positioned within the container and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion of the container, the first attachment mechanism is further from the open end of the container than the second attachment mechanism. Such an arrangement facilitates a higher holding force of the first attachment mechanism compared to the holding force of the second attachment mechanism, since the stiffness of the container increases away from its open end.
According to a second aspect, the subject of the invention is a dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products, comprising a container, a flow restriction and a closure, the dispensing device comprising:
-a first attachment mechanism between the container and the flow restriction, the first attachment mechanism involving friction between an inner contact surface of the container and an outer contact surface of the flow restriction, and
a second attachment mechanism between the flow restrictor and the closure, the second attachment mechanism involving friction between an inner contact surface of the flow restrictor and an outer contact surface of the closure,
wherein:
-the detached deformation of the first attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 1%, the detached deformation of the first attachment mechanism being defined as the ratio of: the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface of the container and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction on the one hand, and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction on the other hand, wherein the circumference value is taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction is detached from the container and assembled with the closure by means of the second attachment means, and
-the detached deformation of the second attachment mechanism is smaller than the detached deformation of the first attachment mechanism while being less than or equal to 2.5%, the detached deformation of the second attachment mechanism being defined as the ratio of: the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure on the one hand, and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure on the other hand, wherein the circumference values are taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction is detached from the closure and assembled with the container by means of the first attachment means.
Due to this controlled difference between the deformation for detaching the first attachment mechanism and the deformation for detaching the second attachment mechanism, the dispensing device according to the second aspect of the invention ensures a high level of sealing between the three parts of the dispensing device. In particular, the sealing characteristics of a three-piece dispenser device having two sealing interfaces may be substantially equivalent to the sealing characteristics of a two-piece device having a single sealing interface comprising only a container and a closure. In this way, the dispensing device according to the second aspect of the invention makes it possible to preserve sensitive unit products stored in the device, while providing flow reducing characteristics for the dispensing of unit products and allowing the user to easily open the closure.
Another subject of the invention is a method for assembling and filling the above-mentioned dispensing device, comprising the following steps:
-assembling the closure with the flow restriction by means of a second attachment mechanism;
-filling the container with a unit product;
-assembling a sub-assembly comprising a flow restrictor and a closure pre-assembled by a second attachment mechanism with the container by the first attachment mechanism.
When the closure of the dispensing device comprises a chamber for the active material, the side wall of which forms a contact surface as part of the above-mentioned second attachment mechanism, the method advantageously comprises the steps of:
-filling the cavity of the closure with an active material;
assembling a closure, the chamber of which is filled with active material, with a flow restriction by means of a second attachment mechanism;
-filling the container with a unit product;
-assembling a sub-assembly comprising a flow restrictor and a closure pre-assembled by a second attachment mechanism with the container by the first attachment mechanism.
Drawings
The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments of a dispensing device and method according to the invention, which description is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing device of FIG. 1 in a configuration in which the flow restriction is detached from the container and assembled with the closure by a second attachment mechanism;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing device of FIG. 1 in a configuration in which the flow restrictor is detached from the closure and assembled with the container by a first attachment mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a section according to plane IV of FIG. 1;
fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of detail V of fig. 4;
figure 6 is a section similar to figure 4 of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the invention;
fig. 7 is a view on an enlarged scale of detail VII in fig. 6; and
figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7 of a dispensing device according to a third embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description
In a first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 5, the dispensing device 1 is intended for storing and dispensing sensitive unit products, such as diagnostic test strips, or nutritional or pharmaceutical products, for example in the form of pills, lozenges or tablets. The dispensing device 1 comprises three components, including a container 2 for storing units of product, a flow restriction 4 for dispensing units of product in a controlled manner, preferably unit by unit, and a closure 6 for reclosably closing the container 2. In the example shown in the figures, the dispensing device 1 has a longitudinal axis X 1 Being a central cylindrical shape, it should be understood that other shapes are possible in the context of the present invention.
The container 2 comprises a bottom wall 21, a circumferential wall 22 and an open end 25 located on the opposite side of the bottom wall 21. The open end 25 is intended to be closed by the closure 6 after insertion of the flow restriction 4. The flow restriction 4 is configured to prevent accidental discharge of more than one product at a time. To this end, the flow restriction 4 comprises an annular wall 41 having at one end a circumferential rim 47 from which a substantially convex guiding portion 44 extends. The convex guiding portion 44 comprises three curved legs connecting the peripheral edge 47 with a central orifice 49, while defining three dispensing orifices 48 between the three curved legs. The male guiding portion 44 ensures the return of a possible excess of product that may have been dispensed back into the container 2 through the dispensing hole 48.
The closure 6 comprises a top wall 61 and a side wall 62 extending from the top wall. The top wall defines a circumferential gripping portion 63, which may include ridges or other protruding features configured to facilitate gripping. As is clearly visible in fig. 4, the closure 6 comprises a chamber 67 for receiving an active material 7 (in particular a desiccant and/or an oxygen scavenger) capable of regulating the atmosphere in the container 2. The chamber 67 defined between the top wall 61 and the side wall 62 is closed by a gas-permeable cover 8 which retains the active material 7 within the chamber. In the example represented, the venting cover 8 is cardboard (cardboard) held in its circumferential direction by a relatively thin extension of the side wall 62 that has been crimped. In other embodiments, the venting cover 8 may be a porous membrane secured to the distal end of the sidewall 62, such as by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, overmolding, or the like.
In this first embodiment, by way of non-limiting example: the container 2, the flow restriction 4 and the closure 6 are all obtained by injection moulding of a polymeric material; the constituent polymeric material of the container 2 is a polypropylene having a tensile modulus (tensile module) of 1350MPa (ISO527) and a flexural modulus (flexural module) of 1200MPa (ASTM D790); the constituent polymer material of the restriction 4 is a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) having a tensile modulus of 200MPa (ISO527) and a Melt Flow Index (MFI) of 1.5g/10min (ISO1133-1, 190 ℃/2.16 kg); the constituent polymeric material of the closure 6 is a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) having a tensile modulus of 140MPa (ISO527), a flexural modulus of 130MPa (ASTM D790) and a Melt Flow Index (MFI) of 7.5g/10min (ISO1133-1, 190 ℃/2.16 kg). According to an advantageous feature, the constituent polymeric material of the restriction 4 is a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) comprising an anti-blocking agent.
The dispensing device 1 comprises a first attachment mechanism between the container 2 and the flow restriction 4 and a second attachment mechanism between the flow restriction 4 and the closure 6. The first attachment means comprise an interference press-fit between the circumferential wall 22 of the container 2 and the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction 4, and incorporate a snap-fastening connection between the inner circumferential groove 24 of the circumferential wall 22 of the container and the outer circumferential ring 42 of the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction. The second attachment means merely comprises an interference press fit between the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction 4 and the peripheral projection 64 of the side wall 62 of the closure 6.
The detachment of the first and second attachment mechanisms involves friction between the contact surfaces. More precisely, the detachment of the first attachment mechanism involves friction between the inner contact surface 23 formed by the upper portion of the peripheral wall 22 of the container, including the inner groove 24, and the outer contact surface 43 formed by the peripheral ring 42 of the flow restrictor. Inner tank 24 of container has retaining surface S 24 The retaining surfaces form geometrically hard points for removal of outer race 42 from inner groove 24. Advantageously, in this example, the retention surface S 24 Relative to the longitudinal axis X 1 Is inclined by an angle alpha of about 22 deg. (i.e. greater than 20 deg.). Holding surface S 24 This relatively large inclination angle α of ensures a strong resistance to the detachment of the first attachment mechanism.
Disassembly of the second attachment mechanism involves friction between the inner contact surface 45 formed by the flat annular wall 41 of the flow restrictor and the outer contact surface 65 formed by the outer protrusion 64 of the side wall 62 of the closure. Interestingly, in this first embodiment, since the contact surface 65 of the closure is defined by the side wall 62 delimiting the cavity 67, the maximum circumference of the contact surface 65 of the closure can be determined by the active material filling rate of the cavity 67. Thus, adjustment of the holding force of the second attachment mechanism may be obtained by adjusting the amount of active material introduced into the chamber 67. In this first embodiment, since the annular wall 41 of the flow restrictor is flat, there are no geometrically hard spots on the way of detaching the outer protrusion 64 with respect to the flat wall 41. Since the flat annular wall 41 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the dispensing device 1 Thus, in this example, the retaining surface phase formed by the flat annular wall 41For the longitudinal axis X 1 Is substantially zero. It will be appreciated that the flow restrictor 4 has a draft angle (draft angle) of between 0.5 ° and 2 °, but since the annular wall 41 flares towards the free end of the flow restrictor 4 opposite the convex guiding portion 44, the inclined surface resulting from this draft angle is not a retaining surface.
In this first embodiment, since appropriate values are selected for the inner diameter of the upper portion of circumferential wall 22 of container 2 between inner groove 24 and open end 25 of the container, the diameter of the bottom of inner groove 24 of the container, and the outer diameter at the apex of outer ring 42 of flow restriction 4, the deformation required for detachment of the first attachment mechanism is selected to be greater than or equal to 1%. The inner diameter of the upper part of the circumferential wall 22 of the container 2 defines the minimum circumference L of the contact surface 23 of the container 23 And the outer diameter at the apex of the outer ring 42 of the flow restriction 4 defines the maximum circumference L of the contact surface 43 of the flow restriction 43 . Note that the minimum circumference L 23 And a maximum circumference L 43 Is taken from a configuration in which the flow restriction 4 is detached from the container 2 and assembled with the closure 6 by means of a second attachment mechanism, which corresponds to the configuration shown in figure 3. For example, in this illustrative embodiment, the minimum circumference L 23 94.3 mm; maximum circumference L 43 96.1 mm; the deformation required to detach the first attachment mechanism is 1.9%.
Also, since suitable diameters are chosen for the upper portion of the flat annular wall 41 of the flow restriction 4 and for the outer projection 64 of the closure 6, these diameters each define the minimum circumference L of the contact surface 45 of the flow restriction 45 Maximum circumference L of contact surface 65 with the closure 65 Therefore, the deformation required to detach the second attachment mechanism is selected to be less than or equal to 2.5%. Here, note that the minimum circumference L 45 And a maximum circumference L 65 Is taken from a configuration in which the flow restriction 4 is detached from the closure 6 and assembled with the container 2 by means of the first attachment means, which configuration corresponds to the configuration shown in figure 2. For example, in this illustrative embodiment, the minimum circumference L 45 Is 86.1 mm; maximum circumference L 65 Is 87.3 mm; the deformation required to detach the second attachment mechanism is 1%.
The respective holding forces of the first and second attachment mechanisms of the dispensing device 1 according to the first embodiment were determined using an automatic force tester (Chatillon TCD 200).
Holding force of first attachment mechanism
Several subassemblies comprising the container 2 assembled with the flow restrictor 4 are secured to the force tester. The flow-restrictor 4 is subjected to a vertical force exerted by the hook which is displaced upwards, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the dispensing device 1 And (4) shifting. A vertical force is applied to the lower surface of the circumferential rim 47 of the flow restriction 4 at a pulling speed of 150 mm/min. The vertical force is registered until the restriction 4 is removed from the container 2.
Holding force of second attachment mechanism
The closed dispensing device 1, comprising the container 2, the flow restriction 4 and the closure 6 all assembled together, is fixed to a force tester. The closure 6 is subjected to a vertical force exerted by the hook which is displaced upwards, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the dispensing device 1 And (4) shifting. A vertical force is applied to the point of the gripping portion 63 of the closure at a pulling speed of 150 mm/min. The vertical force is recorded until the closure member 6 is removed from the flow restriction 4.
The corresponding opening force (N) is recorded in the table below, and the corresponding holding force ratio is calculated:
Figure DEST_PATH_GDA0003702402300000111
it is noted that the above-mentioned measurement of the opening force of the first attachment mechanism is obtained in a configuration in which the flow restriction 4 is not assembled with the closure 6 by the second attachment mechanism. Indeed, the presence of the closure 6 attached to the flow restrictor 4 by the second attachment mechanism increases the retention force of the first attachment mechanism. This is because the sealing pressure exerted by the outer contact surface 65 formed by the outer projection 64 of the closure onto the inner contact surface 45 formed by the flat annular wall 41 of the flow restriction tends to increase the outer diameter at the apex of the outer ring 42 of the flow restriction 4, which defines the maximum circumference of the contact surface 43 of the flow restrictionL 43 。
As a result, the deformation and opening force required to deactivate the first attachment mechanism, i.e. to detach the flow restriction 4 from the container 2, is increased when the closure 6 is assembled with the flow restriction 4 by the second attachment mechanism, compared to when the closure 6 is not assembled with the flow restriction 4. Thus, in the above table, the data of the ratio of the opening force and the holding force of the first attachment mechanism is underestimated compared to the case where the opening force of the first attachment mechanism is measured in the configuration in which the flow restrictor 4 is assembled with the closure 6 by the second attachment mechanism.
The gas tightness of several closed dispensing devices 1 of the first embodiment comprising the container 2, the flow restriction 4 and the closure 6 assembled together is further determined by measurement of the Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) according to ASTM-D7709. To evaluate the leakage rate caused by the double sealing interface at the first and second attachment means, the WVTR value of the dispensing device 1 is compared with a reference value obtained for the same container 2 sealed in a moisture-proof manner. In this example, the WVTR reference is obtained by sealing an aluminum foil seal to the open end 25 of the container. Alternatively, the WVTR reference value for an individual container may be obtained by gluing a metal plate to the open end 25 of the container with an epoxy or hot melt adhesive, or by using a moisture resistant reference closure, which may also optionally be secured to the container by a sealing resin.
The WVTR measurements are recorded in the table below. In each case, a container 2 moulded from polypropylene, a flow restriction 4 moulded from Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and a closure 6 were obtained. The container has a wall thickness of 1.1mm, a circular cross-section with an outer diameter of 32.2mm and an overall height of 53 mm.
Figure DEST_PATH_GDA0003702402300000121
The absolute value of WVTR varies depending on the dimensional parameters (exchange surface created by height and diameter, wall thickness) and material selection. However, it has been observed that when selecting the holding force ratio of the first and second attachment mechanisms within the scope of the present invention, the sealing properties of a three-piece dispenser device having two sealing interfaces are substantially equivalent to the sealing properties obtainable for a two-piece device having a single sealing interface comprising only a container and a closure. As indicated above, the WVTR of the dispensing device 1, including the container 2, the flow restriction 4 and the closure 6 as a whole assembled together, is less than or equal to 1.2 times the reference WVTR measured for a moisture-tight sealed container alone.
Thus, the dispensing device 1 of the first embodiment with a retention force ratio within the scope of the invention makes it possible to preserve sensitive unit products stored in the device while providing a flow reducing characteristic for the dispensing of unit products and making it possible for the user to easily open the closure, in particular with an opening force of less than 35N.
In the second embodiment shown in fig. 6 and 7, similar elements to those of the first embodiment have the same reference numerals. The dispensing device 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the sealing portion of the closure 6 is formed by the outer sealing skirt 66 of the closure, rather than by the side wall 62 of the chamber 67. In this second embodiment, the side wall 62 of the chamber 67 is surrounded by the outer sealing skirt 66 with a gap between the side wall 62 and the outer sealing skirt 66. The outer sealing skirt 66 forms a contact surface 68 of the closure that is part of the second attachment mechanism and is configured to frictionally engage the contact surface 45 of the flow restrictor.
As in the first embodiment, the first attachment means comprise an interference press-fit between the circumferential wall 22 of the container 2 and the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction 4, combined with a snap-fastening connection of the inner circumferential groove 24 of the circumferential wall 22 of the container and the outer circumferential ring 42 of the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction. The detachment of the first attachment mechanism involves friction between the inner contact surface 23 formed by the upper portion of the circumferential wall 22 of the container, including the inner groove 24, and the outer contact surface 43 formed by the outer circumferential ring 42 of the flow restrictor. Inner tank 24 of container has retaining surface S 24 The holding surface being relative to the longitudinal axis X 1 Is inclined by an angle alpha of about 22 deg. (i.e. greater than 20 deg.).
In this second embodiment, the second attachment mechanism includes a flow restrictionThe interference press-fit between the annular wall 41 of the element 4 and the outer skirt 66 of the closure 6 incorporates a snap-fastening connection between the inner circumferential groove 46 of the annular wall 41 of the flow restrictor and the outer circumferential projection 67 of the outer skirt 66 of the closure. Disassembly of the second attachment mechanism involves friction between the inner contact surface 45 formed by the annular wall 41 of the flow restrictor comprising the inner groove 46 and the outer contact surface 68 formed by the outer protrusion 69 of the outer skirt 66 of the closure. The inner slot 46 of the restrictor has a retention surface S 46 The retaining surface being relative to the longitudinal axis X 1 Is inclined by an angle beta of about 12 deg. (i.e. less than 15 deg.).
Here too, since suitable values are selected for the inner diameter of the circumferential wall 22 of the receptacle 2, the diameter of the bottom of the inner groove 24 of the receptacle 2 and the outer diameter at the apex of the outer ring 42 of the restriction 4, wherein the inner diameter of the circumferential wall 22 of the receptacle 2 defines the minimum circumference L of the contact surface 23 of the receptacle 23 Whereas the outer diameter at the apex of the outer ring 42 of the flow restriction 4 defines the maximum circumference L of the contact surface 43 of the flow restriction 43 Therefore, the deformation required to detach the first attachment mechanism is selected to be greater than or equal to 1%. Minimum circumference L 23 And a maximum circumference L 43 Is taken from a configuration in which the flow restriction 4 is detached from the container 2 and assembled with the closure 6 by means of a second attachment mechanism, which corresponds to the configuration shown in figure 3. For example, in this illustrative second embodiment, the minimum perimeter L 23 94.3 mm; maximum circumference L 43 96.8 mm; the deformation required to detach the first attachment mechanism is 2.6%.
Similarly, the inner diameter of the annular wall 41 of the restriction 4 defines the minimum circumference L of the contact surface 45 of the restriction as a result of selecting suitable diameters for the inner diameter of the annular wall 41 of the restriction 4, the diameter of the bottom of the inner groove 46 of the restriction 4 and the outer diameter at the apex of the outer protrusion 69 of the closure 45 Whereas the apex of the outer diameter of the outer projection 69 of the closure 6 defines the maximum circumference L of the contact surface 68 of the closure 68 Therefore, the deformation required to detach the second attachment mechanism is selected to be 2.5% or less. Minimum circumference L 45 And a maximum circumference L 68 Is taken from the configuration in which the restriction 4 is detached from the closure 6 and assembled with the container 2 by means of the first attachment meansForm, this configuration corresponding to the configuration shown in fig. 2. For example, in this illustrative embodiment, the minimum circumference L 45 85.4 mm; maximum circumference L 68 Is 87.3 mm; the deformation required to detach the second attachment mechanism is 2.1%.
The respective holding forces of the first and second attachment mechanisms of the dispensing device 1 according to the second embodiment were determined using an automatic force tester (Chatillon TCD200) as in the first embodiment, resulting in an average holding force ratio of more than 2.
In the third embodiment shown in fig. 8, similar elements to those of the first and second embodiments have the same reference numerals. The dispensing device 1 of the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment only in that the snap-on fastening connection is located between the outer circumferential projection 67 of the outer skirt 66 of the closure and the inner circumferential bead 46' (instead of the inner circumferential groove 46) of the annular wall 41 of the flow restrictor. The detachment of the second attachment mechanism involves friction between the inner contact surface 45 formed by the annular wall 41 of the flow restriction comprising the inner bead 46' and the outer contact surface 68 formed by the outer protrusion 69 of the outer skirt 66 of the closure. The inner collar 46' of the flow restrictor has a retaining surface S 46’ The holding surface being relative to the longitudinal axis X 1 Is inclined by an angle beta of about 12 deg. (i.e. less than 15 deg.).
As can be seen from the above description of several embodiments of the dispensing device according to the invention,
the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. In particular, the three parts of the dispensing device according to the invention can take into account other materials and shapes than those described above. For example, in embodiments where the dispensing device is intended for storing and dispensing very small units of product (such as pellets), it is preferable to remove the circumferential rim 47 of the flow restrictor 4 and connect the legs of the male guiding portion 44 directly with the annular wall 41, to avoid any risk of pellets getting stuck in the gap between the circumferential rim 47 and the closure 6.

Claims (21)

1. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing units of product, comprising a container (2), a flow restriction (4) and a closure (6), the dispensing device comprising:
-a first attachment mechanism between the tubular portion (22) of the container (2) and the tubular portion (41) of the flow restriction (4), which is homogeneous over the circumference of the tubular portions of the container and the flow restriction, and
-a second attachment mechanism between the tubular portion (41) of the flow restriction (4) and the tubular portion (62; 66) of the closure (6), the second attachment mechanism being homogeneous over the circumference of the tubular portions of the flow restriction and closure,
characterized in that the ratio of the holding force of the first attachment mechanism to the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 1.5, the holding force of the first attachment mechanism being defined as the opening force required to detach the flow restriction from the container when the flow restriction is assembled with the closure by the second attachment mechanism, the holding force of the second attachment mechanism being defined as the opening force required to detach the closure from the flow restriction when the flow restriction is assembled with the container by the first attachment mechanism, wherein the holding force of the first attachment mechanism and the holding force of the second attachment mechanism both use a longitudinal axis (X) parallel to the respective tubular portion at a given opening speed of 150mm/min 1 ) The opening force applied is determined.
2. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products of claim 1, wherein the retention force of the second attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 15N.
3. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products of claim 1, wherein the retention force of the second attachment mechanism is less than or equal to 55N.
4. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products of claim 2, wherein the second attachment mechanism has a holding force less than or equal to 55N.
5. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the retention force of the second attachment mechanism is less than or equal to 40N.
6. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said second attachment means consist of an interference press fit between the flow-restrictor (4) and the closure (6), without any snap-fastening connection.
7. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flow restriction (4) and the closure (6) are made of a polymer-based material, the tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the closure (6) being strictly lower than the tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the flow restriction (4).
8. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to claim 7, characterized in that said flow-restriction (4) and said closure (6) are made of a polyolefin-based material, the polyolefin of said flow-restriction (4) and said closure (6) being the same and selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, the tensile modulus of the polyolefin-based material of said closure (6) being strictly lower than the tensile modulus of the polyolefin-based material of said flow-restriction (4).
9. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to claim 7, characterized in that the container (2) is made of a polymer-based material, the tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the container (2) being greater than or equal to the tensile modulus of the polymer-based material of the flow restriction (4).
10. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to claim 8, characterized in that said container (2) is made of a polyolefin-based material selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, the tensile modulus of said polyolefin-based material of said container (2) being greater than or equal to the tensile modulus of said polyolefin-based material of said flow restriction (4).
11. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing a unit product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dispensing device (1) comprising the container (2), the flow restriction (4) and the closure (6) assembled together has a water vapour transmission WVTR which is less than or equal to 1.2 times the WVTR measured separately for the same container (2) sealed in a moisture-tight manner.
12. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detachment of the first attachment means involves friction between an inner contact surface (23) of the container (2) and an outer contact surface (43) of the flow restrictor (4), wherein the deformation of the detachment of the first attachment means is greater than or equal to 1%, the deformation of the detachment of the first attachment means being defined as the ratio of: on the one hand, the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface (23) of the container and the largest circumference of the contact surface (43) of the flow restriction, and on the other hand, the largest circumference of the contact surface (43) of the flow restriction, wherein the circumference values are taken from a configuration in which the flow restriction (4) is detached from the container (2) and assembled with the closure (6) by means of the second attachment means.
13. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detachment of the second attachment means involves friction between an inner contact surface (45) of the flow restrictor (4) and an outer contact surface of the closure (6), wherein the deformation of the detachment of the second attachment means is less than or equal to 2.5%, the deformation of the detachment of the second attachment means being defined as the ratio of: on the one hand, the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface (45) of the flow restriction and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure, on the other hand, wherein the circumference value is taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction (4) is detached from the closure (6) and assembled with the container (2) by means of the first attachment means.
14. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first attachment means comprise both an interference press fit between the container (2) and the flow restrictor (4) and a snap-on fastening connection comprising an inner snap-on fastening member (24) of the container and a complementary outer snap-on fastening member (42) of the flow restrictor.
15. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to claim 14, characterized in that the inner snap fastening securing member (24) of the container (2) has a retaining surface (S) 24 ) Said retention surface forming a hard point for the removal of the snap fastening member (24, 42), this retention surface (S) 24 ) Relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of a tubular portion (22) of the container 1 ) An angle (alpha) of inclination greater than or equal to 15 deg..
16. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to claim 15, characterized in that said retention surface (S) 24 ) Relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of a tubular portion (22) of the container 1 ) An angle (alpha) of inclination greater than or equal to 20 deg..
17. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure (6) comprises a chamber (67) for an active material (7) intended to control the atmosphere inside the container (2), a side wall (62) of the chamber forming a contact surface of the closure which is part of the second attachment means and is configured to be friction-fitted with a corresponding contact surface (45) of the flow restriction.
18. A dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure (6) comprises a chamber (67) for an active material intended to control the atmosphere within the container (2), a side wall (62) of which is surrounded by an outer sealing skirt (66), with a gap between the side wall (62) and the outer sealing skirt (66), the outer sealing skirt (66) forming a contact surface of the closure, the contact surface being part of the second attachment means and being configured to frictionally engage with a corresponding contact surface (45) of the flow restrictor.
19. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the assembled configuration of the dispensing device, the first and second attachment means are positioned inside the container (2) and along the longitudinal axis (X) of the tubular portion (22) of the container 1 ) Is further from the open end (25) of the container than the second attachment mechanism.
20. The dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the holding force of the first attachment mechanism to the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is greater than or equal to 2.
21. Dispensing device for storing and dispensing units of product, comprising a container (2), a flow restriction (4) and a closure (6), the dispensing device comprising:
-a first attachment mechanism between the container (2) and the flow restriction (4), involving friction between an inner contact surface (23) of the container (2) and an outer contact surface (43) of the flow restriction (4), and
-a second attachment mechanism between the flow restriction (4) and the closure (6), which involves friction between an inner contact surface (45) of the flow restriction (4) and an outer contact surface of the closure (6),
the method is characterized in that:
-a detached deformation of the first attachment mechanism, defined as the ratio of: on the one hand, the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface (23) of the container and the largest circumference of the contact surface (43) of the flow restriction, and on the other hand, the largest circumference of the contact surface (43) of the flow restriction, wherein the circumference value is taken from a configuration in which the flow restriction (4) is detached from the container (2) and assembled with the closure (6) by means of the second attachment means, and
-the detached deformation of the second attachment mechanism is smaller than the detached deformation of the first attachment mechanism and at the same time is smaller than or equal to 2.5%, the detached deformation of the second attachment mechanism being defined as the ratio of: on the one hand, the absolute value of the difference between the smallest circumference of the contact surface of the flow restriction and the largest circumference of the contact surface of the closure, on the other hand, wherein the circumference value is taken from the configuration in which the flow restriction (4) is detached from the closure (6) and assembled with the container (2) by means of the first attachment means.
CN202123400139.XU 2020-12-30 2021-12-30 Dispensing device for storing and dispensing unit products Active CN217436532U (en)

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