EP0423303A1

EP0423303A1 - Dosing and pouring spout for a liquid, powdered or granulated products packing container

Info

Publication number: EP0423303A1
Application number: EP90907169A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Paul Taupin
Original assignee: TAUPIN JEAN PAUL
Current assignee: TAUPIN JEAN PAUL
Priority date: 1989-05-03
Filing date: 1990-05-02
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Also published as: FR2646653A1; AU5661390A; WO1990013496A1; FR2646653B1; CA2032494A1

Abstract

Conditionnement-distribution de produits liquides ou pulvérulents. Le bec doseur-verseur comprend: une paroi (2) pourvue d'au moins une ouverture (3), au moins un élement tubulaire (9), rendu solidaire par une première extrémité (10) de l'une des faces de la paroi (2) pour entourer l'ouverture, et qui définit une chambre de dosage (13) ouverte à sa seconde extrémité (11), et un obturateur (12) à clapet, à rappel élastique et à commande manuelle, monté pour fermer la seconde extrémité. Application aux produits alimentaires.Packaging-distribution of liquid or pulverulent products. The dispensing spout comprises: a wall (2) provided with at least one opening (3), at least one tubular element (9), made integral by a first end (10) with one of the faces of the wall (2) to surround the opening, and which defines a metering chamber (13) open at its second end (11), and a shutter (12) with valve, with elastic return and with manual control, mounted to close the second end. Application to food products.

Description

METERING SPOUT FOR CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING LIQUID, POWDERY OR GRANULAR PRODUCTS

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the packaging and distribution of liquid, pulverulent or granular products, to be taken in successive doses from a container to be distributed for the purpose or for the purposes of use.

PRIOR ART

To meet the above requirement, the prior art has proposed a number of solutions which relate to means directly incorporated into the useful volume of the packaging container specifically produced for this purpose. This is the case with the teachings provided by French patents 1,586,932, 1,590,565, 2,021,809 (69-36,827) and 2,209,357 (73-39,864). In all of the solutions proposed by these publications, it is mentioned dosing and distribution means constituted by walls arranged relatively in baffle, so that after several successive tilting operations of the container, a dose of product is confined in a temporary packaging cavity, from which the dose can be dispensed.

The first drawback of the above technique lies in the difficulty of visual assessment of the constitution of the dose when handling the container. Thus, the user has no means of checking the good flow of the product, if the exact dose is made, if an adjustment of this dose can be made according to his wishes.

Another disadvantage of the above techniques lies in the fact that the metering and distribution means are incapable of ensuring, in addition to a precise metering and distribution function, a function of sealing the means of sealing. dosage and useful volume of the packaging container.

Such a deficiency is opposed to the use of such technical means for the dosing and distribution of liquid products, but also of powdery or granular products having a strong hygroscopic character resulting in the total impossibility of emptying as soon as solidification more or less accentuated of the product. However, such products are very commonly used in the domestic field, such as food products, the storage conditions of which most often involve the long-term maintenance of the organoleptic characteristics which are, generally, altered by permanent contact with it. ambient humidity.

The present invention aims to fill the above gap by proposing a new metering-pouring spout whose particular design makes it possible to envisage its adaptation as an integral part of a packaging container, as an integral part of a closure cap. such a container or, alternatively, as an accessory adaptable to such a container or such a cap. Another object of the invention is to provide a metering-pouring spout which, while meeting the preceding objective, can be achieved easily, at an attractive cost price, by offering, additionally, the possible possibility of dispensing doses. of variable product within an adjustment range. An additional advantage of the design of the invention lies in the capacity offered by the spout to rapidly dispense precise and reproducible doses, without risk of altering the quantity of product in reserve in the packaging container. Yet another object of the invention lies in the possibility of producing, directly or indirectly, a packaging container which, although equipped with a metering-pouring spout, is in the form of a traditional container offering the same characteristics and advantages of manufacturing, filling, storage, or even stacking. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above objectives, the metering-pouring spout according to the invention comprises: - a wall provided with at least one opening,

- at least one tubular or like member, at least partially transparent, made integral by one end of one of the faces of the wall to surround the opening, the general direction of ^one axis Longitudinal makes an angle of between 0 and 90 relative to the plane of the wall and which defines a metering chamber open at its second end,

- And a valve shutter, with elastic return and with manual control, mounted on the tubular element to normally close the second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other characteristics and advantages of the subject of the invention emerge from the description which follows, given in relation to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional elevation of an exemplary embodiment of the object of the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are schematic views illustrating, on a smaller scale, two alternative embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation illustrating, on a larger scale, an embodiment characteristic of one of the constituent elements of the object of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections showing alternative embodiments of some of the elements of the spout.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the implementation of the object of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing, at more large scale, another partial embodiment of the subject of the invention.

Figs. 9 and 10 are schematic views relating to the commissioning of the example according to FIG. 8. Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional elevations representing, on a larger scale, two other alternative embodiments of the subject of the invention.

Figs. 13 to 15 are schematic views showing alternative embodiments.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

In the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, which appears to be the least expensive and the simplest. The metering-pouring spout, generally designated by the reference 1, comprises a support wall 2 which is provided with at least one opening 3. The wall 2 may constitute a packaging container 4 or a stopper 5 by constituting the top of the latter for example. The wall 2 can also be constituted, as shown in the drawing, by a plate adaptable inside a plug 5 partially hollowed out, the top of which is then materialized by a shoulder or rim 6 against which such a plate can be maintained. removably or not. The plug 5 is then removably mounted, with the interposition of a seal 7, on the neck 8 of the container 4.

The metering-pouring spout comprises a tubular or similar element 9 made of an at least partially transparent material carrying graduated level marks and the longitudinal axis x-x 'of which can be either straight line, as illustrated in FIG. 1, either curved, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. The tubular element 9 has a first open end 10 which is made integral with the support plate 2. The attachment may result from a one-piece production, for example by molding, or from an added connection between the element 9 and the wall 2, by gluing or the like, or of a casing of a male part 10a_ of

Element 9 in a complementary part 3a bordering the opening 3 according to fig. 3.

In all cases, the tubular element 9 is provided to surround the opening 3, so that its axis ^χ -χ 'passes through this opening, making, with the plane of the wall 2, an angle α, preferably acute, possibly between 0 and 90.

In the case where the element 1 is produced as a plug or an adaptation accessory on such a plug, the opening 3 is made as close as possible to the periphery of the wall 2 and the tubular element 9 is present, preferably, a length chosen as a function of the angle α, so that its second open end 11 remains included in projection at the size section of the plug 5.

IT must be considered that the same support wall 2 could comprise more than one opening 3 each surrounded by a tubular element 9 with which each would constitute a metering-pouring spout.

The second open end 11 of the tubular element 9 is associated with a shutter 12 capable of closing this end 11 to delimit, by the internal volume of the tubular element 9, a metering chamber 13 communicating, permanently, with the volume useful 14 of the container 4 through the opening 3. The shutter 12 is of the valve type, with elastic return and direct or trigger operated, and is carried by the tubular element 9. The valve shutter includes, as this is illustrated in fig. 1 and 4, a sealing plate 15, in any suitable rigid material, 'which is mounted on the tubular element 9 by a part 16 assuming a hinge or articulation function, as well as an elastic return function of the obturator in a closed position of the chamber 13. To this end, the part 16 may advantageously be constituted by a leaf spring formed by or attached to the tubular element 9 and the plate 15.

The shutter 12 comprises a seal 17 attached to the face of the wafer oriented towards the open end 11. The seal 17 is preferably constituted by a skin 18 covering and holding a cushion in place. pad or the like 19 for padding. Such a cushion or The tampon can advantageously consist of a mass of foam of suitable material or, alternatively, a capsule or a charge of a liquid or gaseous product.

The seal 17 is intended to cooperate with a seat 20 presented by the open transverse end 11 in the form of a continuous peripheral edge originating, for example, from the presence of a chamfer 21. Preferably, the edge 20 is limited by a plane, so as to constitute a support seat capable of cooperating, under the best conditions, with the lining 17. Under the permanent action of elastic return exerted by the member 16, the lining of seal 17 is pressed against the seat 20 which is partially imprinted in the thickness of the pad 19 through the skin 18 by establishing a peripheral seal isolating the metering chamber 13 from the ambient medium.

The tubular element 9, constituting the metering-pouring spout, can have, in cross section, any suitable shape, such as a circular shape illustrated in FIG. 5. In certain cases, the tubular element 9 can have a curvilinear triangular shape with rounded vertices, as illustrated by FIG. 6.

The opening 3 cleans, in the support wall 2, a weir threshold 22. According to a preferred constructive arrangement, The weir threshold 22 is formed so that the opening 3 has the lowest useful section of passage at right of this weir for reasons which emerge from the following.

According to the relative conformations chosen with regard to the opening 3 and the tubular element 9, the latter can therefore largely surround the opening or, on the contrary, border it peripherally.

In the application to a container or container of household products, the spout described above is used in the following manner.

When it is a question of constituting and distributing a dose of a product _P contained in the packaging container 4,

The user directs the tubular element 9, as illustrated by the Fig. 1, then subjects the container 4 to tilting by rotation in the direction of the arrow f .., until the mass of product P_ is established at a level higher than that of the weir 22. In this way. The product _P flows into the chamber 13 which is closed by the shutter 12.

The establishment of a precise dose, visually appreciated by the user, is obtained after filling the chamber 13 by then inverting the container in the opposite direction until the product is established in the plane of the overflow threshold 22 , as shown in fig. 7.

In this state, it suffices for the user to exert a pressure in the direction of the arrow f ₂ on the sealing plate 15 to control its pivoting ensuring the opening of the second cross section 11 and the emptying of the dose. j) _P product in any container for further use.

After emptying the dose _D, the user ceases its action in the direction of the arrow f ₂ and lets escape the obturator plate 15 which is briskly brought back, by the action of the spring 16, against the seat 20. The shock back of the wafer 15 in the closed position of ^'the chamber 13 causes detachment of the product adhering either the seat 20 or to the skin 18 or to the tubular element 9. in this way, a seal may be established without particular attention on the part of the user, only, compelled to exercise a gesture of tilting, opening and releasing the shutter to obtain a precise dose distributed without risk of retention. The detachment and elimination of traces of product on the plate 15 and on the seat, make it possible to have a chamber 13 perfectly clean for the constitution of another dose J> _ The reserve of product _P, still contained in the container 4, is thus isolated from any permanent contact with the surrounding environment, which preserves the good flow as well as the essential intrinsic characteristics of the product, such as the organoleptic characteristics of food products weakly, even moderately, or even strongly, hygroscopic . It is the same, of course, for the packaging, dosing and distribution of liquid products, some of the principles of which may be more or less volatile.

It must be considered that the particular shape of the weir 22 has the consequence of delimiting an opening 3 having a useful passage section reducing to the right of the weir 22. In this way, during the tilting in the direction of the arrow f_., The product P_ is required to borrow the widest cross-section of the opening 3, which enables rapid, efficient filling of chamber 13 to always have a precise dose. This dose can be adjusted, after filling as said above, by tilting the container 4 in the opposite direction to the arrow f., To bring a return flow of the product JP between the chamber 13 and the volume 14. By acting in this way, the product P, admitted into the chamber 13, can be transferred back by ^" being forced to take the smallest useful passage section of the opening 3. In this way, it is possible to precisely adjust the dose _D _^ without fear of an untimely return of the major part of this dose in volume 14 during the transition to a reverse tilting of the container 4.

Fig. 8 shows an advantageous arrangement consisting in causing the wall of the tubular element 9 to have a local constriction 40 situated in the part of the peripheral wall opposite the overflow threshold 22. The constriction 40 is preferably formed by a part 40a of slight inclination, marked from or substantially close to the base of the tubular element 9 surrounding the opening 3. The part 40a delimits, inside the chamber 13, a convergent 41 whose cross section useful is gradually reduced to the connection area with a part 40b of greater reverse inclination. This part 401) household, inside the tubular element 9, a divergent 42 opening in the direction of the cross section 11. Preferably, the part 40b is located substantially in alignment with the weir threshold 22, in consideration from a direction y perpendicular to the plane of the support wall 2.

The function of the throttle 40 is to constitute, after the first filling tilting according to FIG. 9, a shoulder slowing the return of the product constituting the dose D when the container is tilted back, illustrated in FIG. 10. This braking, in collaboration with the overflow threshold 22, makes it possible, instantaneously and without precaution, to make a precise adjustment of the dose that the user wishes to constitute in the chamber 13. It can be envisaged, according to the invention, provide the dosing spout with adjustment means allowing a variation in the quantity dosed, quickly and without precaution. An exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 11, in which such metering adjustment means, designated by the reference 50, involve a tubular segment 51 mounted free to slide telescopically on the tubular element 9. The segment 51 can be immobilized axially by means of a blocking member 52, such as a needle screw, passing through the tubular segment 51 to cooperate with an axial groove 53 presented by the tubular element 9. A sealing bellows 54 is then fitted between the segment 51 and the element 9 to isolate the metering chamber 13 from the ambient medium.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the means 50 constituted, then, by a part 60 of the periphery of the element 9 made of a deformable material capable of occupying, that is to say an outward position, as illustrated in mixed lines, that is to say an inward position, projecting inside the useful volume of the chamber 13 which is reduced accordingly. The transition from one to the other position can be acquired by a pressure action tending to cause a bistable link to be elastically deformable, thus conferring a kind of memory on the deformable wall part 60.

It should be considered that other means of dosage adjustment can be considered. It is, in fact, possible to produce the lining 17 of the shutter 12 so as to give it a possibility of elastic deformation, by Via an adjustment screw carried by the blanking plate 15.

By the means described above, it becomes possible to seally seal a packaging container and quickly extract from it a precise reproducible and adjustable dose of the product it contains, without putting the reserve of product in lasting contact with the ambient environment likely to alter it.

Furthermore, the means according to the invention do not involve any metering adjustment member, for example mechanical, including operation. Friction or relative displacement would result in degradation of the product to be dispensed, as well as a risk of clogging making the dispenser-dispenser quickly ineffective. Fig. 1 shows, in phantom, an alternative embodiment chosen to allow stacking despite the projecting part that constitutes the element 9. In this example, the element 9 is covered by a plug 70 made integral with the plug 5 by any means known fixing. Fig. 13 shows an application of the metering-pouring spout to a container 70 - of capacity close to or greater than that of the domestic containers taken into account previously. The container 70 is, for example, mounted to rotate on an axis 71 while being driven manually or motorized. The container 70 constitutes a reservoir, refillable or not, into which a quantity of product has been introduced to occupy a volume less than that useful of the reservoir. The rotation of the container is provided in the direction of arrow f, for reasons which emerge from the following. The container 70 comprises, on its peripheral wall and preferably near one of the transverse walls, at least one metering-pouring spout according to the invention and as described above. According to an adaptation shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the container 70 has an intermediate capacity 72, part of which delimits it constitutes the wall 2 on which the tubular element 9 is adapted. Preferably, in this application. The tubular element 9 is oriented outside the transverse wall such as 73, so as to allow cooperation between the shutter 12 and a stop or the like 74 in a fixed position. From a state such as that shown in phantom in FIG. 14, the pulverulent product fills the capacity 72 occupying the low position. The rotation in the direction of the arrow f, brings the capacity 72 progressively in the high position according to a circular trajectory which promotes the filling of the spout 1. This operating phase is equivalent to that described in FIGS. 7 to 10.

In the high position, the tubular element 9 is completely filled and its emptying can take place manually or automatically by cooperation between the cover 12 and the stop 74. For each rotation turn of the reservoir 70, the spout 1 is capable of delivering a dose of product emptied into a hopper or other filling container.

In an application such as that according to FIGS. 13 and 14, the container 70 can comprise several capacities 72 equipped with spout 1 and arranged equidistantly or not angularly. It can also be provided to provide the container 70 with a fixed or mobile internal mixer promoting the mixing of the product during the rotation of the container 70. Such an internal mixer can be constituted by an arm, a hoop, a stirrup, etc. ..

The container 70 can be of any kind and appropriate shape and can be adapted to a fixed or mobile station, whether or not part of a treatment, packaging, mixing or use installation of the pasty, pulverulent or granular product.

Fig. 15 shows another variant according to which the overflow 22 is bordered by a bar or a blade 75 intended to scrape the product to promote filling of the spout, more particularly but not limited to, in an application where the container consists of a rotating tank 70 .

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds an advantageous application in The packaging of containers for powdered food products.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 - Metering-pouring spout for container (4) for packaging liquid, powdery or granular products, characterized in that it comprises: - a wall (2) provided with at least one opening (3),

- at least one tubular or similar element (9), at least partially transparent, made integral by a first end (10) of one of the faces of the wall (2) to surround the opening, the general direction of The Longitudinal axis (χ-χ *) makes an angle (α) between 0 and 90 relative to the plane of the wall and which defines a metering chamber (13) open at its second end (11),

- And a shutter (12) with valve, with elastic return and with manual control, mounted on the tubular element to normally close the second end. 2 - Metering spout according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve shutter (12) comprises a sealing plate (15), one of the faces of which carries a seal (17) intended to cooperate with a seat d 'support (20) constituted by a peripheral edge presented by the second end (11) of the tubular element (9).

3 - Metering spout according to claim 2, characterized in that the seal (17) is constituted by a deformable pad comprising a smooth skin (18) and a padding material (19). 4 - Metering spout according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (3) of the support wall (2) constitutes a single L weir (22).

5 - Metering spout according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening (3) is shaped to delimit a passage section having the smallest useful width in line with the weir threshold. 6 - Metering spout according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular element comprises a local throttle (40), substantially from its base bordering the opening (3) and in a part of its wall opposite the threshold. The weir (22). 7 - Metering spout according to claim 6, characterized in that the local throttle (40) comprises a portion (40a) of slight inclination providing a convergent (41) in the direction of filling of the tubular element, then a part (40b) of greater inclination, of opposite orientation, providing a diverging portion (42) in the direction of filling of the tubular element.

8 - Metering spout according to claim 7, characterized in that the portion (40b) of greater inclination is located substantially in alignment with the overflow threshold (22) in consideration of a direction (y) perpendicular to the wall of support (2).

9 - Metering spout according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the tubular element (9) comprises means for adjusting (50) the dose.

10 - Metering spout according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment means (50) consist of graduated marks present in the transparent part of the tubular element.

11 - Metering spout according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjusting means (50) consist of a tubular segment (51) telescopic, mounted adjustable on the tubular element (9).

12 - Metering spout according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment means (50) consist of a wall portion (60) elastically deformable. 13 - Metering spout according to one of claims 1 to

12, characterized in that it comprises a tubular element (9) covered by a plug (70) to allow stacking.

14 - Metering spout according to claims 1, 6, 9 and 13, characterized in that the tubular element (9) is made removable from the support wall (2) by a male-female assembly. 15 - Metering spout according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the tubular element is adapted on a wall (2) constituting a capacity formed at the periphery of a container in the form of a rotating tank . 16 - Metering spout according to claim 15, characterized in that the tubular element extends to lead out of the plane of a transverse wall closing the tank.