EP1206397B1 - Packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a packaging device comprising a container (1), a closure element (2), in the form of an inner seal (12), and a soft and sealing film (13) affixed to the inner seal (12) and forming a compensating chamber (6) with variable volume connected to the outside by a perforation (17) provided in the inner seal (12). The device is designed to contain a substance (14), such as water, which increases in volume when it freezes. The maximum internal volume of the compensating chamber (6) is not less than said increase in volume of the substance, such that neither the container, nor the inner seal is damaged or broken when the substances increases in volume. The device is particularly adapted to the production of ice in hermetically sealed packages.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for performing a sealed packaging filled with a liquid liable to show variations volume to provide a sealed ice cube.

It is a fact that the hygiene of the ice cubes intended to cool the drinks leaves to be desired. The tap water used is far from perfect, even dangerous in some countries. Refrigeration production facilities are rarely stopped for sufficient cleaning. The temperature is not low enough to prevent the development of germs. Ice cubes may stay in the holding tank for too long before being served. Some servers handle the ice cubes with their fingers to throw them background of glasses.

Consequently, the consumer often has no other solution than to withdraw himself ice cubes from the glass or order drinks specifying "Without ice".

The ice cubes are currently prepared at home using trays suitable placed in the freezer. Even though these ice cubes can be prepared with mineral water, sources of potential problems exist, such as a lack of hygiene due to cleaning of the containers, the shelf life of ice cubes in the open air, hygiene during handling ice cubes. Similar problems arise with automatic production of ice cubes.

Patent CH 443 951 proposes to remedy these drawbacks by providing a packaging device consisting of a container and its lid closing, and. including a clearing house whose volume internal is variable so as to compensate for variations in volume of the liquid he must receive. This room has a waterproof wall at least partially mobile separating it from the liquid and capable of communicating by at least one opening with the outside of the container.

Thus is produced a packaging device capable of compensating for variations in volume of its contents without the walls of the container and its member closure are deformed or deteriorated. It is then possible to produce ice cubes contained in a sealed and airtight package. Thanks to this packaging device, the consumer can receive his drink accompanied by a few ice cubes sealed in their individual packaging waterproof in optimal hygienic conditions.

• sécurité sanitaire des glaçons dans les régions où l'eau risque d'être impropre à la consommation ;
• garantie de qualité du contenu ;
• absence de dilution lorsque le glaçon est préparé avec la boisson qu'il est destiné à refroidir ;
• pas de chaíne du froid à respecter, les augmentations et diminutions de volume dues à la congélation, à la décongélation et à la recongélation étant entièrement compensées ;
• pré-stockage à température normale des emballages de glaçons avec les boissons ;
• longue durée de conservation ;
• support de communication et de publicité.

The advantages provided by this device are as follows:

• ice safety in regions where the water may be unsafe for consumption;
• content quality guarantee;
• no dilution when the ice cube is prepared with the drink it is intended to cool;
• no cold chain to respect, increases and decreases in volume due to freezing, thawing and refreezing being fully compensated;
• pre-storage at normal temperature of ice packs with drinks;
• long shelf life;
• communication and advertising medium.

When filling such a device, it is essential to ensure that the the volume of the clearing house is not reduced because, when freezing of the liquid, the container and its lid may distort and deteriorate, which would lose all the interest of the device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for eliminating this risk.

• se munir d'un godet,
• le remplir partiellement de liquide en laissant libre un espace correspondant sensiblement à l'augmentation de volume engendrée lorsque le liquide se transforme en glace,
• se munir d'un opercule de fermeture du godet, sous lequel est fixée de manière étanche, par son pourtour, une pellicule souple possédant, en son centre, une cavité préformée délimitant avec l'opercule une chambre de compensation à volume variable dont le volume maximum est au moins aussi grand que l'augmentation de volume engendrée lorsque le liquide se transforme en glace,
• fermer le godet de manière étanche et amovible à l'aide de l'opercule, et caractérisé en ce que la dernière étape du procédé consiste à pratiquer un orifice dans ledit opercule afin de permettre la communication de la chambre de compensation avec l'extérieur.

More specifically, the invention relates to a method of producing a sealed package filled with liquid in order to provide a sealed ice cube, comprising:

• bring a bucket,
• partially fill it with liquid, leaving a space corresponding substantially to the increase in volume generated when the liquid turns to ice,
• be provided with a lid for closing the bucket, under which is fixed in a sealed manner, by its periphery, a flexible film having, in its center, a preformed cavity delimiting with the lid a compensation chamber with variable volume whose volume maximum is at least as large as the increase in volume caused when the liquid turns to ice,
• close the bucket in a leaktight and removable manner using the cover, and characterized in that the last step of the method consists in making an orifice in said cover in order to allow the communication of the compensation chamber with the outside.

Advantageously, the maximum volume of the clearing house roughly corresponds to ten percent of the volume of liquid contained in the bucket.

Very advantageously, the partial filling of the bucket is carried out therein. first introducing a quantity of liquid greater than that which is desired then by sucking up the excess liquid using a tube whose end is positioned at a level corresponding to the quantity of liquid desired.

Les figures 1 et 2 représentent un premier mode d'exécution, le contenu étant liquide, respectivement congelé.

Les figures 3 et 4 illustrent le mode d'utilisation de ce premier mode d'exécution.

Les figures 5, 6 et 7 représentent des variantes du premier mode d'exécution.

Les figures 8 à 14 sont des vues présentant les différentes étapes d'un procédé de fabrication et d'utilisation du premier mode d'exécution.

Les figures 15 et 16 sont des vues d'un second mode d'exécution.

Les figures 17 et 18 représentent un troisième mode d'exécution.

Les figures 19 et 20 illustrent un quatrième mode d'exécution.

Other advantages emerge from the characteristics expressed in the description setting out the invention below in more detail with the aid of drawings which show schematically and by way of example four embodiments and variants.

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment, the content being liquid, respectively frozen.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the mode of use of this first embodiment.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show variants of the first embodiment.

Figures 8 to 14 are views showing the different stages of a method of manufacturing and using the first embodiment.

Figures 15 and 16 are views of a second embodiment.

Figures 17 and 18 show a third embodiment.

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a fourth embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 8, the packaging device according to the first embodiment consists of three parts, namely a container 1, by example in the form of a semi-rigid thermoformed cup 11, a closure 2 intended to close an upper opening 7 of the container 1, here consisting of a cover 12 similar to that of a yogurt pot, and a wall waterproof 3 movable, mobile and / or deformable, for example formed of a flexible film 13 thermoformed with a preformed cavity. This film 13 can advantageously be made of plastic, for example high density polyethylene.

The container 1 is intended to contain a determined quantity of a substance 4 which is either in the liquid state 14, or in the frozen or solid state 15. The film flexible 13 is fixed for example by heat sealing under the cover. She trains a volume of fluid, more particularly an air bubble 16 directed towards the liquid 14. The cover 12 is crossed by at least one hole in the form a small hole 17 connecting the air bubble to the outside of the packaging. This bubble of air therefore forms a compensation chamber 6 whose internal volume is variable, since the sealed wall 3 is flexible and deformable.

When substance 4 changes volume, for example when it changes from the liquid state to the solid state, the compensation chamber 6 makes it possible to compensate for variations in volume by air exchange with the outside at through the hole or holes or holes acting as a regulating member.

Thus, the volume of this compensation chamber in the inflated state to volume maximum is at least as large as the value of the increase in maximum volume of substance 4 in the container. In in particular, substance 4 may contain a specific quantity of water or ice cream. The volume of the clearing house 6 in its inflated state is then at least as large as the increase in volume caused when the amount of water turns to ice.

According to a particularly advantageous use of the invention, the container contains mainly water and the device is intended for the manufacture of ice cubes. The volume of the clearing house in its inflated state then corresponds approximately to ten percent of the volume of water contained in bucket 11.

When water freezes in well 11, it can increase its volume at detriment of the clearing house 6, the volume of which decreases sharply by expelling air through the hole 17. The film 13 then wrinkles (Figure 2) and the ice cube 15 forms while remaining sealed in the packaging of which the cup 11 and the cover 12 do not undergo any deformation. When the water is thawed, the bubble re-forms. So, the chain cold can be stopped without the substance in the cup 11 does not come into contact with the outside and without the container and the lid are distorted.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the bucket 11 comprises a tongue or a detachable tab 20 which is integral with the seal 12 and film assembly 13. This tab 20 facilitates the opening of the bucket. The ice cube 15 is then extracted normally through opening 7 as in the case of a simple ice cube tray.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the buckets 11 can be manufactured to come in stackable plates or strips or in pairs. These buckets can then be separated by breaking segments, grooves or perforated.

The invention is particularly suitable for the production of ice cubes made water or mineral water, as shown in Figure 7. The consumer can then receive their drink accompanied by a few sealed ice cubes hermetically in their individual packaging, advantageously identified in name of a brand 21 of mineral water or other drink and bearing a expiration date. The outer surface of the cover then serves as printing surface, for example to identify the content or as advertising support.

An advantageous method of manufacturing and using the packaging device represented in FIG. 1 is explained below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

The three parts of the packaging device, namely the cup 11, the film 13 with in cavity its preformed concave bubble and the cover 12, are prepared (figure 8). The film 13 is fixed on its edges, for example by thermobonding, under the cover so as to trap in the cavity a air bubble 16 or another gas or fluid corresponding substantially to the minus ten percent of the volume of water that will be contained in well 11 (fig. 9). The connection between the film and the seal must be tight and permed.

The liquid, water for example, is then poured into the cup 11 until a level above the final filling level 22 to be reached (fig. 10). The bucket 11 is then presented opposite a suction tube 23 whose height of the orifice is calibrated so as to obtain the filling level final 22 desired by suction of the excess liquid (Figure 11). The filling of the bucket is thus carried out so as to reserve a volume not occupied 24 which is sufficient to allow the liquid to expand during its freezing (fig. 12).

The assembly, cover 12 and film 13, is in turn fixed, for example by thermobonding, on the rim 25 of the cup 11. The bubble 16 then drives out a volume of air equivalent to its volume of cup 11 (fig. 13). The set is tightly fixed, but removable, on bucket 11.

A hole 17 is then made in the cover 12 so as to leave circulate the air between the bubble 16 and the outside so as to form a compensation 6 with variable volume. When the liquid is frozen and undergoes this expands, the air from the bubble 16 escapes through the hole 17 and neither the bucket 11 or the cover 12 are not deformed (fig. 2). When the contents are thawed, the bubble 16 is reformed (fig. 1), this cycle being able to continue indefinitely.

The variant illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 comprises a bucket 31 closed at its upper part by an intact cover 32 without orifice. Film 33 is fixed to the bottom 34 of the bucket 31 to form a bubble 36 playing the role of clearing house. The bottom is pierced with a small hole 37.

In another variant shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the film 43 is attached to the side wall 44 of the bucket 31. Aside from this difference, this variant is identical to the previous one.

The container 1 can have any shape, including shapes of fancy. In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the device packaging is used for molding sorbets or edible ice cream 45. The container 1 is closed by a cover 46 which comes in one piece with a rod 47 extending on both sides of the cover 46. The lower side of the rod is surrounded by a film 48 forming a compensation chamber 49 (fig. 19). The cover 46 is pierced with a small hole 50. When the glass 45 is frozen (fig. 20), the clearing house has a very large volume low. For consumption, the container 1 is removed. Ice 45 remains however fixed on the rod 47 which can be held by the consumer by its other free end.

It is understood that the embodiments and variants described above have no limiting nature and that they can receive any desirable modification within the framework as defined by claim 1. In particular, the packaging device can be adapted for filling and the conservation of any food or non-food substance undergoing volume variations. Instead of being formed by a glued cover, the organ closure could consist of any other fixed cover or cap on the container by any means, screwing, tightening, etc. The waterproof wall 3 could be rigid and connected to the container by a deformable element, such as a waterproof bellows, to ensure variations in the volume of the compensation 6. This watertight wall could be formed by any other flexible, deformable or rigid waterproof material. Instead of a single hole or drilling, the closure member could be pierced with several holes, preferably small in diameter, less than 1 mm. Instead of the ice cubes being consisting of water or mineral water, we could prepare them according to very varied compositions and tastes. They could for example present a composition similar or identical to the drink they are intended for cool, so that the latter is not diluted or altered in its taste. They could also add a different flavor to the drink. The packaging may also be used as an advertising medium.

The manufacturing and use process could also be modified and adapted to specific conditions. So filling the liquid could be carried out in a single operation with adequate dosing means. Liquid could also be filled to the brim and excess liquid would then be driven out by fixing the seal and film assembly.

Claims (3)

1. Method for producing a sealed package filled with liquid with a view to providing a sealed ice cube, involving:

   provision of a cup;

   filling it partially with liquid, leaving free a space corresponding substantially to the increase in volume generated when the liquid is transformed into ice;

   provision of a cup closing cover, under which is fixed tightly, on its periphery, a flexible film having at its centre a preformed cavity demarcating with the cover an expansion chamber of variable volume, the maximum volume of which is at least as large as the increase in volume generated when the liquid is transformed into ice;

   closing the cup tightly by means of the removable cover, and

      characterised in that the last stage of the process involves making an orifice in said cover to enable the expansion chamber to communicate with the outside.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the maximum volume of the expansion chamber corresponds substantially to ten per cent of the volume of liquid contained in the cup.
3. Method according to one of the claims 1 and 2, characterised in that, to partially fill the cup, it involves:

   placing in it first a quantity of liquid greater than that desired, and then

   drawing out the excess liquid by means of a tube the end of which is positioned at a level corresponding to the desired quantity of liquid.

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