EP0098973B1 - Closure device for flexible containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a closure for flexible containers made of tubular or sack-shaped semifinished products for transporting and storing flowable or pourable goods, with a clamping device comprising a plurality of bars which can be fixed against one another and an unwinding device arranged on the circumference of a winding rod for the container opening to be closed, which in particular has a rod.

Such containers have a volume of 1000 l or 2000 l, for example, and are primarily intended for use in the event of a disaster. For example, they can be used to supply the population with drinking water. However, they are also suitable, for example, for storing drinking water or waste water on ships or for storing other liquids. The containers are generally transported by truck, the permissible total weight of which must not be exceeded. As a result, when using smaller load paths, it may be necessary not to fill the container completely. In this case, however, dynamic inertial forces of the liquid can endanger the vehicle while driving, so that a closure is required which reduces or completely eliminates the free volume.

It is also necessary to make the closure as easy to use as possible, especially for rapid use in the event of a disaster. Finally, in some cases it may be necessary to design the closure to be as space-saving as possible, for example to enable stacking of several containers.

A closure suitable for this purpose is known for example from DE-OS 30 04 884. The closure described in this document consists of clamping bodies arranged one above the other in side holders, through the separating joints of which one end of the semifinished product is passed. The clamping bodies are arranged to be displaceable relative to one another and can be braced against one another with a clamping device that can be inserted into each holder. A disadvantage of this known closure is given by the construction of a relatively large number of individual parts, which complicate its handling and increase the susceptibility to faults. Furthermore, the dimensions of this closure are relatively large, so that stacking of several containers on top of one another is severely hindered. The dimensions of the closure are particularly disadvantageous for containers with a small capacity.

The closure mentioned above is known from FR-PS 1 458 178. This closure has a winding rod, around which the container opening of the container to be closed is wound, an additional clamping body being applied laterally after the wrapping. In order to prevent unwinding of the container opening wound on the winding bar, an unwinding device in the form of a clamp element is pushed onto the winding bar. A corresponding closure is known from FR-PS 78 061.

A disadvantage of this known closure is also the construction of a relatively large number of individual parts, which complicate its handling and increase the susceptibility to faults. A major disadvantage is that with the known winding rod, the container opening to be closed can be wound up only with difficulty and with difficulty, special care being taken to avoid oblique winding. In addition, the sealing effect when winding onto the known winding rod is not always guaranteed, and leaks can occur in the container, in particular if the internal pressure is high. The known unwinding protection is also not able to counteract these disadvantages, which, moreover, is very difficult to handle with the known winding rod.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide an improved closure which facilitates the winding of the container opening to be closed and which ensures perfect sealing properties at all times, even with high internal pressure in the container.

As a technical solution to this problem it is proposed with the invention that the winding rod has a slot so that an upper part and a lower part of the container can be inserted into the slot and with at least two deflections around the edges of the winding rod formed by the slot by at least 270 ° are tight and wrinkle-free.

The advantage of this closure is that the wrap in the winding rod makes it easier to wind up the container opening to be closed. For winding up, the container opening only needs to be pushed into the slot, and the container opening can no longer slip on the winding rod when the winding rod is rotated by 90 °. In particular, it is very easy with the slot to roll up the container opening several times around the winding rod if a smaller volume is required in the container. Another advantage is that the slot forms a clamping edge that seals the container perfectly even at high internal pressures. Finally, the closure consists of only a few parts and is therefore hardly susceptible to failure. In addition, it has a significantly lower weight compared to the known var closures.

According to a further feature of the invention, the unwind protection is formed by a rod-shaped tensioning element which is connected to the winding bar by means of tensioning screws. The clamping element can be designed as a rail with a U-shaped profile, the slotted winding rod partially or completely. This embodiment has the advantage that the upper and lower part of the flexible container to be closed is additionally squeezed against the slotted winding rod on two edges of the U-shaped profile and thus additional seals of the closure are provided.

The unwind protection can also be formed by two opposing rectangular tubes or profiled rods which are connected to one another by means of tensioning screws leading through the slotted winding rod outside the slot length of the winding rod.

In a further embodiment, the unwinding protection is formed by a sleeve which firmly encompasses the wound container opening and can be pushed onto the winding rod and which, in the pushed-on state, is fixed non-rotatably with respect to the winding rod.

By designing the unwinding protection as a sleeve, a quick and reliable fixation of the container opening wound on the winding rod is achieved. Additional elements such as Tensioning screws, which can be lost when the closure is open and during cleaning of the container, are not required. The sleeve can be pushed onto the winding rod in the axial direction. Since it is fixed so that it cannot be rotated when it is pushed open, the wound-up container opening does not come loose on its own, so that the container is closed properly at all times. The handling of the closure is even easier and the susceptibility to faults is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve on the winding rod is held non-rotatably as a result of a profile cross section of both the sleeve and the winding rod that deviates from the circular shape. The profile cross section of the sleeve and the profile cross section of the winding rod can be rectangular, in particular square, or oval. This special design of the profile cross-sections means that there is no need for an additional anti-rotation lock.

In another embodiment, the sleeve is held non-rotatably on the winding bar by means of anti-rotation devices engaging in both parts. For this purpose, the end of the sleeve can be provided with a notch into which, after the sleeve has been pushed open, a pin arranged at the corresponding end of the winding rod and extending in the radial direction engages as a rotation lock. This embodiment opens up the possibility of also using winding rods and sleeves with a round cross section. In a preferred development, the longitudinal slide also serves as a notch, this preferably being used at both ends of the sleeve for receiving one pin each, which is arranged at the two ends of the winding rod. In addition to dispensing with an additional notch in the sleeve, the longitudinal slot together with the pins serves as a guide for pushing the sleeve onto the winding rod. This prevents the sleeve from twisting relative to the winding bar during the sliding on.

According to a further feature of the invention, the sleeve consists of an elastic material and is in frictional connection with the outside of the wound-up container opening. The height of the longitudinal slot is preferably somewhat less than the height of the flattened container opening, the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal slot of the sleeve abutting the upper and lower part of the container after being pushed open. This makes it difficult to inadvertently move the sleeve in the pushed-open state relative to the winding rod.

According to a further feature of the invention, the opening opposite the front entry opening of the sleeve is closed by a plate. This plate serves as a stop, which ensures easy positioning in the axial direction when the sleeve is pushed onto the winding rod.

To further develop the closure according to the invention it is proposed that two,. the two ends of the winding rod are slidable sleeves, the length of which is less than half the total length of the winding rod. This simplifies the fixing of the container opening wound on the winding rod, since it is not necessary to slide on a sleeve corresponding to the total length of the winding rod, but only two small sleeves which are pushed onto the two ends of the winding rod. This is particularly advantageous with wide container openings if, due to the length of the sleeve, a large frictional resistance occurs when pushed on.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve has a U-shaped profile cross section and can be pushed on transversely to the axial direction of the winding rod, with a displacement lock being arranged at the two ends of the sleeve. A locking bolt that is anchored to the sleeve and rotatable and engages behind the winding bar can be provided to prevent displacement.

A ring that can be pushed onto the end is also conceivable as a displacement device. The U-shaped sleeve is used when wide container openings have to be closed, which would lead to high frictional resistance if the sleeve were moved axially.

Finally, it is proposed with the invention that the edge of the container opening protruding into the slot of the winding rod is arranged within the winding rod. This avoids disturbing elevations of the wound container opening, which make it difficult, if not impossible, to slide the sleeve open.

• Fig. 1 einen gefüllten, flexiblen Behälter mit Verschluß in Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Behälter nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 den Verschlug entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer ersten Ausführungsform mit einem Spannelement;
• Fig. 4 den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer zweiten Ausführungsform mit einem Rechteckrohr;
• Fig. 5 den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer dritten Ausführungsform mit einer Hülse und mit quadratischem Profilquerschnitt;
• Fig. 6 den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer vierten Ausführungsform mit einer Hülse und mit dreieckigem Profilquerschnitt;
• Fig. 7a den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer fünften Ausführungsform mit einer Hülse und mit rundem Profilquarschnitt;
• Fig. 7b den Verschluß nach Fig. 7a in Draufsicht im Endbereich mit einer Verdrehsicherung;
• Fig. 8a den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer sechsten Ausführungsform mit einer U-förmigen Hülse;
• Fig. 8b den Verschluß nach Fig. 8a mit einem Riegel als Verschiebesicherung in Längssicht;
• Fig. 9a den Verschluß entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 2 geschnitten in einer der Fig. 8a entsprechenden Ausführungsform, jedoch mit einem Ring als Verschiebesicherung;
• Fig. 9b den Verschluß nach Fig. 9a in Draufsicht mit dem auf das Ende aufgeschobenen Ring.

Embodiments of the closure according to the invention are shown in the drawings, namely:

• Figure 1 shows a filled, flexible container with closure in side view.
• Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container of Fig. 1;
• 3 shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 in a first embodiment with a tensioning element;
• 4 shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 cut in a second embodiment with a rectangular tube;
• 5 shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 cut in a third embodiment with a sleeve and with a square profile cross section;
• 6 shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 cut in a fourth embodiment with a sleeve and with a triangular profile cross section;
• 7a shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 in a fifth embodiment with a sleeve and with a round profile section;
• 7b shows the closure according to FIG. 7a in a top view in the end region with an anti-rotation device;
• 8a shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 cut in a sixth embodiment with a U-shaped sleeve;
• FIG. 8b the closure according to FIG. 8a with a bolt as securing against displacement in a longitudinal view;
• 9a shows the closure along the line AA in FIG. 2 cut in an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 8a, but with a ring as a securing means against displacement;
• Fig. 9b the closure of Fig. 9a in plan view with the ring pushed onto the end.

The bag-shaped, flexible container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of an upper part 2 and a lower part 3, which on their two longitudinal sides and on one end face are joined to form a common edge 5, for example glued or welded to one another. The upper part 2 is provided with a filling opening 4. The second end face of the container 1 serves as a container opening 7, which opens into a neck 6. The container opening 7 is closed by a closure 8.

When the container 1 is closed, the neck 6 is guided through a winding rod 10 provided with a slot 9 in the middle and then wound tightly and without folds by at least 360 ° in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 by rotating the winding rod 10 in the direction toward the center of the container . The layers of the container opening 7 can also overlap by repeated turning. The neck 6, as can be seen in FIG. 3, is deflected at several points. As soon as the desired winding is required, the rotation achieved can be fixed by tightening clamping screws 13, which are suitably provided near the ends of the winding rod 10. The clamping screws 13 lead through a clamping device 11 forming clamping element 12 with a U-profile and through the winding rod 10 and are z. B. tightened by a mother.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, it is wrapped by at least 270 °. Here, the fixing element has the shape of two rectangular tubes 14, which are connected with tensioning screws 15, which lead through the winding rod 10 outside the area of the slot 9.

5 to 9 show further embodiments of the closure 8, which differ in particular by the fixing element. The flattened container opening 7 of the empty container 1 is in turn pushed into the slot 9 of the winding rod 10, the edge of the container opening 7 coming to rest within the winding rod 10.

In order to fix the container opening 7 wound on the winding rod 10, in the embodiments according to FIGS. 5 to 9, a sleeve 16 with a longitudinal slot 21 is pushed onto the winding rod 10 in the axial direction by firmly gripping the wound container opening 7. The longitudinal slot 21 of this sleeve 16 comes with its two longitudinal edges on the upper part 2 and the lower part 3 of the container 1 to the plant. In Fig. 5, both the winding rod 10 and the sleeve 16 have a rectangular profile cross section, so that both parts are non-rotatably fixed to each other. In this way, the container opening 7 is closed, the pushed-on sleeve 16 ensuring that the container opening 7 no longer detaches from the winding rod 10.

In the embodiment in shape. 6, the profile cross sections of both the winding bars 10 and the sleeve 16 are triangular. Here, too, the two parts are fixed in a non-rotatable manner.

In the embodiment of the closure 8 shown in FIG. 7a, the winding rod 10 and the sleeve 16 have a round profile cross section, so that an additional anti-rotation device must be provided in this embodiment. This is shown in Fig. 7b. The end of the sleeve 16 is provided with a notch 20, in which, after the sleeve 16 has been pushed on, a pin 19 arranged at the corresponding end of the winding rod 10 and extending in the radial direction engages as an anti-rotation device. The longitudinal slot 21 in the sleeve 16 can also serve as the notch 20. In this case, the longitudinal slot 21 also serves as a guide for pushing on the sleeve 16.

In the embodiment of the closure 8 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the sleeve 16 has a U-shaped profile cross section and is pushed on transversely to the axial direction of the winding rod 10, that is to say from the right in the drawing. In order to prevent the sleeve 16 from slipping off the container opening 7 wound on the winding rod 10, an additional locking device is provided. To this The purpose in Fig. 8b is a bar 17 rotatably arranged on the sleeve 16, which is in the dashed position before and during the sliding of the sleeve 16 on the winding rod 10. After being pushed on, the bolt 17 is rotated downward and thus prevents the sleeve 16 from coming loose. Another possibility is shown in Fig. 9a and 9b, in which a clip-like ring 18 is pushed onto each of the ends of the sleeve 16.

In the illustrated embodiments, the container 1 is bag-shaped, so that only one closure 8 is required. However, it is also possible to use a tubular semifinished product open at both ends as the container 1, in which case two closures 8 are then required. The volume of the container 1 can thus be reduced to a certain volume from two sides.

Claims (21)

1. Closure (8) for a flexible container of tubular or bag shaped semi-finished materials for transport and storage of flowable or pourable goods, with a clamping arrangement (11) of a plurality of bars, which are adapted to be placed next to one another and an unwrapping preventing means (12, 14, 16) arranged adjacent to the periphery of a wrapping bar (10) for the container opening (7) to be closed, which particularly comprises a bar

characterised in that,

the rolling bar (10) comprises a slot (9), so that an upper part (2) and a lower part (3) of the container (1) can be inserted into the slot (9) and can be wrapped through at least 270° tightly and without folds with at least two passes around the edges of the wrapping bar (10) defined by slot (9).

2. Closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the unwrapping preventing means is formed by a rod shaped tension element (12), which is connected by means of tension screws (13) with the wrapping bar (10).

3. Closure according to claim 2, characterised in that the tension element (12) is formed as a bar with a U-shaped profile for partial or complete reception of the wrapping bar (10).

4. Closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the unwrapping preventing means is formed by two rectangular tubes (14) or profiled bars lying opposite one another, which are connected together with tension screws (15) guided through the wrapping bar (10) outside the length of the slot of the wrapping bar (10).

5. Closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the unwrapping preventing means is formed by a shell (16) which can be pushed over the wrapping bar (10) firmly gripping the wrapped container opening (7), which shell is fixed nonrotatably relative to the wrapping bar (10) in the pushed over position.

6. Closure according to claim 5, characterised in that the shell (16) is non-rotatably held on the wrapping bar (10) as a result of the profile cross section of the shell (16) as well as of the wrapping bar (10) differing from circular.

7. Closure according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the profile cross-section of the shell (16) and the profile cross-section of the- wrapping bar (10) is rectangular, especially square.

8. Closure according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the profile cross-section of the shell (16) and the profile cross-section of the wrapping bar (10) is oval.

9. Closure according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the shell (16) is nonrotatably held to the wrapping bar (10) by means of the unwrapping preventing means gripping both parts.

10. Closure according to claim 5, characterised in that the end of the shell (16) is provided with a notch (20) in which a radially extending peg (19) arranged on the corresponding end of the wrapping bar (10) is non-rotatably gripped after pushing over of the shell (16).

11. Closure according to claim 10, characterised in that a longitudinal slot (21) in the shell (16) serves also as the notch (20).

12. Closure according to claim 11, characterised in that the longitudinal slot (21) serves at both ends of the shell (16) for reception of a respective peg (19) arranged at each end of the wrapping bar (10).

13. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterised in that the shell (16) consists of an elastic material and is in rubbing contact with the outside of the wrapped container opening (7)

14. Closure according to claim 13, characterised in that the height of the longitudinal slot (21) is somewhat less than the height of the flattened container opening (7), whereby the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal slot (21) of the shell (16) enclose the upper and lower parts (2,3) of the container(1) after the pushing over.

15. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterised in that the oppositely disposed opening of a plate is closed by the forwardly facing entrance opening of the shell (16).

16. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterised in that two pushable-over shells (16) are provided on both ends of the wrapping bar (10), the length of each being smaller than half the total length of the wrapping bar (10).

17. Closure according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the shell (16) has a U-shaped profile cross-section and is pushed over transverse to the axial direction of the wrapping bar (10), a removal preventing means is arranged on both ends of the shell (16).

18. Closure according to claim 17, characterised in that a transverse member (17) rotatably coupled to the shell (16) for gripping behind the wrapping bar (10) is provided as removal preventing means

19. Closure according to claim 17, characterised in that a ring (18) pushable over the end of the shell (16) is provided as removal preventing means.

20. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that the projecting flange of the container opening (7) is disposed in the slot (9) of the wrapping bar (10) within the wrapping bar (10).

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