EP0046754A4

EP0046754A4 - Combined piercer and valve for flexible bag.

Info

Publication number: EP0046754A4
Application number: EP19800901986
Authority: EP
Inventors: William C Christine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-02-27
Filing date: 1980-03-20
Publication date: 1982-07-12
Also published as: BR8009030A; EP0046754A1; AU535154B2; NZ193314A; CA1139268A; WO1981002418A1; AU5689880A; JPS57500189A; DE3071897D1; ZA802129B; EP0046754B1

Abstract

A valve (40) or flap for use with a flexible film pouch or bag (41) of the type that contains liquids or fluidic material, and wherein the valve (40) includes a sealing flange (43) or a fitment that is suitably secured or affixed to the outer surface of the film or bag (41), and a piercer (59) is provided for selectively puncturing the bag or film when manual pressure is applied to a cap (53) so that the material in the bag can be selectively dispensed from the bag.

Description

COMBINED PIERCERAND VALVE FOR FLEXIBLE BAG

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is concerned with a valve or tap for use with a bag such as a bag in a box containing liquid or fluidic material to be dispensed. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Heretofore various types of valves have been provided for selectively removing the contents of bags or containers, as for example attention is directed to prior U. S. Patents 3,400,866, 4,055,032, 3,474,933, 3,792,799 and 3,343,724. However, neither these prior patents nor any others known to applicant achieve the advantages of the present invention.

Recently, wine packages are being used wherein wine is sealed in a flexible film liner which is mechanically supported within a paperboard carton. The valve of the present invention, fitted to the liner, in use protrudes through the carton so that the wine can be poured without breaking the liner seal, and since the liner is collapsible, entry of air is prevented. The advantage of this construction is that the wine remaining in the package is not exposed to oxygen which is detrimental to the quality of the wine. Comparing this with the pouring of the wine from a glass bottle, it is obvious that substantial oxygen is entrained into the wine during, the decanting process, thus practically eliminating the shelf life of the wine after decanting has been commenced. Comparing this invention with other bagin<-box packages, the critical difference involves the period of time from the packaging of the wine through its warehousing, transportation and distribution cycle to the user. Other bag-in-box packages require the perforating of the liner at the time that the wine is packaged so that the valve can be installed. With the present invention, oxygen cannot enter through the valve until the pouch is punctured since the valve is on the outside of the pouch. Thus, there will be no loss in quality during retail marketing of the wine in such units due to entry of oxygen.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a valve or tap for use with a bag made of a material such as flexible plastic material that is adapted to hold a quantity of material therein such as wine. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to use with containers of wine since it can be used for containers holding any other material such as orange juice or any other liquid or fluidic material that lends itself for this purpose. A fitment or the sealing flange of the valve body is affixed to the outside of the flexible bag, there being a piercer which is selectively caused to puncture the bag when a cap is manually actuated or moved. The advantage of this construction is that the contents of the bag remain relatively impervious to oxygen so that deterioration of the contents of the bag does not occur.

It is known that when wine for example is placed in plastic containers, that approximately one-third to one-half of the oxygen uptake of the wine occurs through the valve as a consequence of piercing the membrane of the pouch for filling the pouch or to admit the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism of the present invention precludes the permeation of oxygen through the valve since the pouch is filled as it is being formed, and the valve is located exterior to the pouch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve for a bag wherein when it is desired to dispense a predetermined quantity of the material from the bag, the valve can be operated by pressing manually on a resilient cap with the thumb while holding the fitment between flanges that are conveniently provided thereon. This will push the piercer through the film, and as the piercer is actuated, its valve seat moves, allowing fluid to pass through the port and discharge spout. An important advantage of the present invention is that the film is not pierced until the valve is put in use and this is especially important in wine packaging where oxidation is a problem.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a valve which can be easily operated and can be installed on the exterior of the pouch which assures oxygen impermeability, the valve being ruggedly constructed and relatively simple to manufacture and install and efficient in use.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a valve of such compact design that it can be installed on the pouch of fluidic products, and therefore conveniently and easily refolded into a position inside the box that contains the pouch being in a position convenient to an aperature provided for its use.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a valve for use with a liquid container wherein the valve is relatively inexpensive and disposable and not reusable and wherein there is provided a novel and improved relatively inexpensive construction and arrangement of a piercing valve and liquid outlet. The above and other features and objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the valve attached to a portion of a plastic bag that is adapted to hold the material to be dispensed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device being used for drawing liquid.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the valve with parts separated for clarity of illustration.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the valve.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the device in puncturing position.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 40 indicates the valve of the present invention which is adapted to be used with a flexible film bag or pouch 41 that contains fluidic material or the like to be dispensed. As shown in Figure 5 for example, the valve 40 includes a valve body 42 that includes a first inner flange 43 that is secured in any suitable manner to the outer surface of the pouch 41. The valve body 42 further includes a second flange 44 that is spaced outwardly from the flange 43 so as to define a space 45 between the flanges 44 and 43 for receiving an end portion 46 of a closure or aperature in corrugated box or the like 47. The valve body 42 further includes a cylindrical portion 48 that has a third or outer flange 49 adjacent at its outer end, and the flange 49 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed slits 50 therein for a purpose to be later described. The valve body 42 further includes an outwardly projecting portion 52 that has a plurality of spaced apart slots or grooves 51 therein that communicate with the slits 50.

Arranged on the interior of the valve body 42 is a valve seat 54 that is formed on the inner portion of the cylindrical portion 48 of the valve body 42, and the valve seat 54 includes a central opening 55. As shown in Figure 7 for example, the valve seat 54 has a plurality of rings or concentric ridges 56 thereon. The valve seat 54 is arranged on the interior of the cylindrical portion 48 of the valve body 42. There is provided on the outer end portion of the valve body 42 a wall portion 57 which has a central opening 58 therein.

The numeral 59 indicates a piercer shaft unit that includes a shaft portion 60 that has a valve element 61 thereon that is mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to the valve seat 54. A snap through fitting or bushing 62 on the outer end of the shaft portion 60 is engaged by the resilient cap 53.

The inner end of the piercer 59 includes a double point cutting edge 63 on a cylindrical section 64, and the cylindrical section 64 has a plurality of longitudinally disposed grooves 65 in its outer surface, Figure 7. The numeral 66 indicates a space or hollow interior in the valve body so that when the parts are in the position of Figure 7, the film 41 is punctured whereby the fluidic material can flow from the bag or pouch 41 through the grooves 65 , into the space 66, through the opened valve seat opening 55, into the space 67, and then out through the discharge spout 68 in the bottom of the device. Figure 2 shows the user's thumb being used to apply manual pressure to the deformable cap 53 to cause the cutting edges 63 to puncture the film whereby the material can be discharged into a waiting receptacle 70 or other desired location. From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a valve assembly for use in dispensing controlled quantities of material' from a pouch such as the flexible pouch 41. The material being dispensed may be wine or the like and it is to be understood that the present invention is not limit ed to any particular type of material to be dispense In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, the valve body 42 is arranged so that its flange 43 is suitably secured in any suitable manner to the outer surface of the film or pouch 41. Initialy the parts are in a position such as that shown in Figure 1 or as shown in Figure 5. When it is desired to dispense a quantity of material from the pouch 41, it is only necessary to apply finger or thumb pressur by means of the thumb 69 to the flexible cap 53 so that the parts will move from a position such as that shown in Figures 1 and 5 to a position such as that shown in Figures 2 and 7. Thus, as manual pressure is applied to the cap 53, the piercer shaft element

59 will be moved or pushed inwardly whereby the double cutting edges or points 63 will puncture or pierce the film 41. Thus, material within the pouch 41 can flow through the punctured opening 71 that is formed in the pouch, and this material can then flow through the grooves 65 into the space 66.

It will be noted that with the parts in the inward position of Figures 2 and 7, the valve element 61 is moved away from the valve seat 54 so that the material can flow from the space 66 through the valve seat opening 55 and into the chamber 67. The material can then flow by gravity down through the discharge opening or spout 68 into a waiting receptacle 70 or other area.

When manual pressure is released on the cap 53, due to the inherent resiliency of the cap 53, the parts will be automatically returned from the position shown in Figures 2 and 7 to a position such as that shown in Figures 1 and 5 so that the further flow of material will be blocked or prevented. Thus, with the parts in the position shown in Figure 5, the valve element 61 is in closing relation with respect to the valve seat 54 so that no further material will be discharged or dispensed from the pouch. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

As shown in the drawings, the piercer 59 has the shaft 60 formed integral therewith. However, in certain instances the shaft may be made as a separate piece from the piercer and then these parts can be suitably secured together. Likewise, instead of making the piercer with a double cutting edge, it may be made with a single sharp cutting edge or the like. As shown in the drawings, the shaft 60 goes outside the cap 53 to prevent the cap from being pulled off. The slits 50 are provided for air flow to and from the cap 53 so that suitable provision is made for vacuum pressure prevention and the like. The valve seat 54 has the plurality of concentric rings or ridges 56 to help assure a tight seal between the valve element 61 and the valve seat. The cap 53 has a suitable construction to accommodate the snap through section of the shaft 62. The flange 43 may be heat sealed or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the pouch 41. In some instances, the device may be made with a fitment that is a separate piece from the valve body. The slots 51 register with the slits 50 so that sufficient air can enter the interior of the device in order to prevent vacuum formation from occurring. The present invention is especially suitable for use as a wine tap, but it is to be understood that the device can be used for controlling the dispensing of any material and is not limited to the use of wine.

The space 45 between the flanges 43 and 44 can snugly receive therein a portion of a cardboard box or the like in which the pouch 41 is arranged. A suitable protective closure can be arranged over the valve assembly to prevent accidental actuation of the device during shipment, storage and the like. The piercer 59 has on its inner end one or more sharp points or barbs 63 for selectively puncturing the bag or pouch 41. The cap 53 has a dome shape and is made of a suitable resilient material. The barbs 63 are adapted to selectively pierce or puncture the film 41 when the cap 53 is manually depressed by the thumb 69. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 or Figure 7, the liquid or fluid can be dispensed in the desired and proper manner.

It will therefore be seen that there has been provided a valve or tap which is especially suitable for use in dispensing fluidic material or liquid from a flexible bag such as a bag of the type that is arranged in a cardboard box or the like. The va lve is especially suitable for use in conjunction with such bags when wine is arranged in such bags , but as previously noted the present arrangement is not limited to any particular material and can be used wherever such materials are to be dispensed. With regard to wine bags , studies have shown that approximately one-third to one-half of the oxygen uptake of the wine occurs through the va lve as a consequence of piercing the membrane of the pouch to admit the valve mechanism, and the packaging system and valve of the present invention precludes the permeation of oxygn through the va lve .

When manual pressure is applied to the cap 53 , the cap 53 is depressed or compressed , and the pierce r shaft is moved so that the sharp edges 63 will puncture the film to provide an opening 71. so that wine or oth er liquid can then flow out by gravity through the puncture opening 71. When manual pressure is released on the cap 53 , due to the inherent resiliency of the cap 53, the parts will automatically return from a position such as that shown in Figure 7 to a position such as that shown in Figure 5 whereby the valve element 61 will seal against the valve seat 54 to prevent any further flow of material through the valve until the valve is again actuated.

Presently, the wine industry is using bags with fittings thereon, and the prior such devices have certain important disadvantages that the pre sent invention overcomes. In particular, with the present invention, oxidation of the contents of the bag is prevented or minimized, and this is due to the fact that the fitment is fixed to the outer surface of the film, and in addition the bag is not punctured until the wine or other liquid is to be dispensed.

An important advantage of this valve over prior devices is that the film is not pierced until the valve is put in use, and this is especially important in wine packaging where oxidation is a problem. Also, with the present invention, ease of operation is assured as well as oxygen permeability is properly handled. With the present invention, automatic assembly is readily accomplished, and the device can be efficiently oriented as when the entire tap assembly is made in an automatic feeder. With the present invention, the integrity of the pouch is not lost and the valve will not leak and destroy the package so that air cannot enter and degrade the product. Thus, improved shelf life is provided as compared to pouches that are used with valves that require the pouch to be broken. Thus, a cleaner, tighter pouch with longer shelf life is provided since the flange 43 is affixed to the outer surface of the film 41. In the Malpas patent, there is a loose valve which is put in the bottom of the carton. It is necessary for the user to open that portion of the carton, remove the valve, then install it in the fitments secured to the pouch and box. This is a very labor intensive and expensive package to manufacture. The consumer is asked to install the valve, which is an unsuitable marketing feature.

It will be seen that there has been provided a valve or tap which is especially suitable for dispensing liquids such as wine from a pouch. The pouc 41 is adapted to be arranged in a collapsible cardboard carton, and such carton may include decorative material on its outer surface. The pouch 41 may be made of any suitable material such as transparent flexible plastic, foil or the like.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated herein in particular detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS

(received by the International Bureau on 23 March 1981 (23.03.81))

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. In a valve, a flexible pouch, a valve body having a portion secured to the outer surface of said pouch, a piercer shaft unit movably mounted in said valve body, at least one cutting edge on the inner end of said piercer shaft unit, and a manually compressible cap on the outer end of said piercer shaft unit. 2. The structure as defined in Claim 1 wherein the pouch is adapted to hold wine, and wherein oxygen cannot contact the wine.

3. The structure as defined in Claim 1 wherein the pouch is adapted to hold liquid. 4. The structure as defined in Claim 1 and further including seat means for controlling flow of material through the valve, a discharge spout on the bottom of said valve body, and wherein the cap is compressible and resilient so that when εanual pressure is applied thereto, the piercer cutting edge will puncture the pouch, and wherein manual thumb pressure is released from the cap, the cap will return to its outward normal, position to cause the seat means to prevent flow of material through the discharge spout.

5. A valve for use with a flexible film bag comprising a valve body including a first flange secured to the outer surface of said bag, a second flange spaced outwardly from said first flange, said valve body including a cylindrical portion, a third flange adjacent to the outer end of said cylindrical portion, there being a plurality of radially disposed slits in said third flange, an outwardly projecting portion on the outer end of the cylindrical portion, and said outwardly projecting portion having slots registering with said slits, a resilient deformable cap engaging the outwardly projecting portion of said valve body, a circular valve seat on the inner portion of said body, there being a plurality of concentric ridges on said valve seat, a wall portion on the outer end of said valve body, there being a central opening in said wall portion, a movable piercer including a shaft portion projecting through the opening in said wall portion, a snap through connector on the outer end of said shaft portion engaging said cap, a valve element on said shaft portion mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to said valve seat, said piercer including on its inner end a cutting edge, said piercer including a cylindrical section having longitudinally extending grooves in its outer surface, there being a discharge spout in the lower end of said valve body.

6. The structure as defined in Claim 5 wherein the movement of the cap causes the piercer to selectively puncutre the pouch.

7. In combination with a flexible pouch having fluidic material therein; valve means for selectively controlling discharge of material from the pouch, said valve means including a stationary valve body means, piercer shaft means reciprocally mounted in said valve body means, compressible cap means on the outer end of said valve body means, and said compressible cap means being operatively connected to the outer end of the shaft means, and piercing means on the inner end of the piercer shaft means.

8. The structure as defined in Claim 7 and further including valve seat means for controlling flow of material therethrough.

9. The structure as defined in Claim 8 and further including discharge spout means on the bottom of said valve body means. (new) 10. A valve for a flexible film pouch, said valve in cluding a valve body having a portion secured to the other surface of said pouch, a piercing unit movably mounted in said valve body, at least one cutting edge on the inner end of said piercer, a manually compressible cap on the outer end of said piercer, said pouch holding fluidic material, seat means on said piercer unit for selectively controlling flow of material through the valve, a discharge spout on the bottom of said valve body, said cap being compressible and being resilient so that when manual pressure is applied to the cap, the piercer cutting edge will puncture the pouch, arid wherein when manual pressure is released from the cap, the cap will return to its outward normal position to cause the seat means to prevent flow of material through the discharge spout.

(new) 11. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein the pouch is adapted to hold wine, and wherein oxygen cannot contact the wine.

(new) 12. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein the piercer unit selectively pierces the pouch film leaving a plastic hinge on a sector of the pouch.

(new) 13. The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein the piercer after puncturing the flexible film permits flow of fluidic contents of the pouch through the valve. (new) 14. The structure as defined in claim 13 wherein the piercer selectively punctures a hole in the flexible film and wherein the flexible film is not self healing, and whereby upon further actuation of the valve, the film does not close around the piercer.

(new) 15. The structure as defined in claim 14 wherein the body of the valve is an integral part of the means for attaching the valve to the flexible film pouch, so as to eliminate a two part assembly, namely a valve and a fitment. (new) 16. The structure as defined in claim 15 wherein the valve facilitates the use of suitable meterial for sealing the valve to flexible film, the valve being a throwaway unit. valve facilitates automatic assembly to flexible film in a form fill seal machine, pouch making machine, and the like and wherein the valve body is of a heat sealable polymer, and wherein the valve and fitment are of integral construction.

(new) 18. The structure as defined in claim 17 wherein the cap is of a material that has a memory.

(new) 19. The structure as defined in claim 18 wherein the piercer unit permits free flow of product through the valve body, and means for permitting heat sealing of the entire assembly to film or other such material in an automatic one step process.

(new) 20. The structure as defined in claim 19 wherein the valve is attached to the pouch in a bag-in-box airless dispensing system to permit unobstructed flow of material from a pouch.

(new) 21. The structure as defined in claim 20 wherein the valve is positioned at the bottom of a bag-in-box and wherein actuation of the valve is accomplished in a positive manner by the cap, and wherein the valve is. adapted to be used with oxygen sensitive liquids, such as wine.

(new) 22. A valve for use with a flexible film bag comprising a flexible body including a first flange secured to the outer surface of said bag, a second flange spaced outwardly from said first flange, said flexible body including a cylinder portion, a third flange adjacent to the outer end of said cylindrical portion, an outwardly projecting portion on the outer end of the cylindrical portion, a resilient deformable cap engaging the outwardly projecting portion of said valve body, a circular valve seat on the inner portion of said valve body, a wall portion on the outer end of said valve body, a movable piercer including a shaft portion projecting through said wall portion, a valve element on said shaft portion mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to said valve seat, and piercer including on its inner end a cutting edge, there being a discharge spout in the lower end of said valve body.

(new) 23. The structure as defined in claim 22 wherein movement of the cap causes the piercer to selectively puncture the pouch so that a hinge is provided on a sector of the cut out film.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

With the present invention there is provided a valve with a body designed for securing to the outside of a pouch that contains a piercing means for piercing the pouch as well as a seat means for controlling the flow of material from the pouch. Further, the design contains a stem with piercing means oh the end which addresses the pouch wall and also contains a seat means for controlling the flow of the contents of the pouch.

There is provided a valve assembly with body components moulded from a polymeric substance with an integral flange secured for joining by molecular cohesion such as heat sealing, ultrasonic bonding, impulse sealing or the like for vessels, conduits, membranes, or pouch of similar polymeric material. The valve has an arrangement of features configured- to facilitate its assembly to pouches, conduits, vessels, membranes and the like and is especially suitable to be used with an automatic attaching machine.

The tap of the present invention can be applied completely assembled on line with one operation and the piercer will work effectively with a heat sealing material such as plastic film. The piercer must effect a reasonable size hole in the film leaving a film pierced sector attached by a hinge of the film material. The valve is easy to operate and is, therefore, attractive for consumer markets. The tap requires a similar amount of force applied to the cap to operate the same, and this is very convenient for the customer.

The tap of the present invention is designed to be a throwaway item and the tap is ruggedly constructed, efficient to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The tap of the present invention is especially adaptable to be used with a bag-in-box assembly and wherein the box does not have to be poured. The tap can be arranged at the bottom of the box, and positive actuation of the valve by the resi lient cap helps prevent oxygen from entering the liquid. This provides a definite advantage with oxygen-sensitive liquids, such as wine.

Applicant's construction facilities application of the tap automatically in a variety of machines, such as form-fill-seal machines or equipment, pouch-making equipment, and the like.

There is provided a valve and a piercer which is used for flexible film piercing, and a plastic hinge is provided on a sector of the plastic material.

With the present invention there can be various other piercer designs, which can be utilized, and an extra flange can be provided beyond the spout for automatic feeding. The piercer is such that it will provide for the flow of fluid around and through the piercer after puncturing of the film and the piercer will allow sufficient liquid flow after puncturing the film so that free flow is provided.

There is provided a retractable piercer so that the total assembly can be applied at one time, and the method for extracting fluid is contained internally in the valve.

The valve of the present invention has several critical features. One as to materials and two as to construction of parts. The material chosen for the cap has memory and may have thin sections as well as thickness and rigidity in other sections. Memory enhancing ribs with special locations can be provided to permit the cap to overcome the friction of the piercing shaft of the valve body. Even after refrigeration, ribs and the like can be utilized to permit the cap to spring back to its original position. Means may be provided to present the cap from collapsing into a dimple so that there is a balance permitting overcoming of shaft hole friction, and permitting the same to return to its original position.