EP1312556A1 - Closing and opening device for hermetically sealed package - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine for opening and closing an agrochemical package has a piercing head (2) and a closure (4) on the package to be pierced by the piercing head. The closure reseals after passage and removal of the piercing point to prevent contacts between the package interior and the environment. The closure can have a disc (5) on the package wall. <??>Claims include a package for agrochemicals.

Description

The present invention relates to a device opening / closing an airtight packaging, in particular intended for the conservation of food products.

However, although more specifically intended for hermetic packaging intended for the conservation of products food, it can also be used for the packaging of all other type of product.

We know of applications in which the opening and closing a package requires special precautions aimed at in particular to avoid contact between the content or the interior environment of packaging and the environment.

These applications include opening and closing a hermetic packaging for the conservation of food products after their heat treatment. In this first application, we know that after a heat treatment, certain food products reject a juice of cooking or exudate which must be removed from the packaging before marketing of the product. We also know that it can be useful or even essential to check during or after the heat treatment certain data such as the temperature of the product contained in the packaging.

For these two reasons mentioned above, and also for others reasons such as possible injection of additional products into the packaging, it is necessary to be able to access the products contained in the packaging.

However, given the nature of the products, it is not possible for health reasons to bring the interior environment of the packaging and the surrounding environment when opening and returning again airtight packaging when closed.

Currently, the solution to overcome this problem is in a first time to open the airtight packaging and unpack the products then to repackage them in a second hermetic packaging. In what relates to monitoring data such as temperature on the product contained in the packaging, the technique used is the use of a sample witness which is perforated and whose content is probed, this sample serving as reference for other packaging, may not, however, given the perforation and contact between the interior environment and the environment, be reused, therefore, the product contained will be lost.

This problem which, to date, to our knowledge, has not not resolved, has strong economic and ecological consequences and bacteriological.

Among the applications requiring precautions specific to the opening and closing of a package, also in the medical field the aspiration of a predefined dose of liquid contained in a bottle by means of a syringe allowing in particular to avoid contact between the liquid sucked in and the surrounding environment. In this application, the packaging is punctured by the needle of a syringe and said dose of liquid is aspirated in its entirety by said syringe thus allowing avoid any contact between the aspirated liquid and the ambient environment and the empty bottle is then thrown away.

This solution therefore has various drawbacks and especially the packaging can not be reused which results in loss of generally expensive product.

The object of the invention is to propose a device opening / closing an airtight packaging, in particular intended for the conservation of food products which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and allows you to open and close the hermetic packaging without any contact between the indoor environment and the environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a opening / closing device for hermetic packaging, in particular intended for the conservation of food products, in which it is possible to inject or aspirate liquids or semi-liquids out or in packaging.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a opening / closing device for hermetic packaging, in particular intended for the conservation of food products, in which it is possible to obtain data on the interior of the packaging by preventing any contact between the interior environment and the ambient environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reliable opening / closing device which is easy to use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows which is given only as indicative and which is not intended to limit it.

• des moyens de percement de la paroi dudit emballage,
• des moyens d'obturation au-travers desquels on réalise le percement de l'emballage,
• lesdits moyens d'obturation étant aptes à se refermer après percement lorsque les moyens de percement sont retirés de manière à empêcher tout contact entre le milieu intérieur de l'emballage et le milieu ambiant.

According to the invention, the device for opening / closing an airtight package, in particular intended for the preservation of food products comprises:

• means for piercing the wall of said packaging,
• sealing means through which the packaging is pierced,
• said sealing means being able to close after piercing when the piercing means are removed so as to prevent any contact between the interior of the packaging and the ambient environment.

The invention also relates to a packaging equipped with the means aforementioned shutter.

• la figure 1 montre, selon une vue schématique, un exemple de réalisation du dispositif d'ouverture/fermeture d'un emballage hermétique conforme à l'invention,
• les figures 2 à 4 illustrent, selon une vue schématique les différentes étapes d'ouverture/fermeture de l'emballage hermétique,
• la figure 5 montre, selon une vue schématique, une étape supplémentaire à celles des figures 2 à 4 mettant en oeuvre le dispositif d'ouverture/fermeture conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 6 représente, selon une vue schématique un exemple de réalisation des moyens d'obturation conforme à l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by the attached drawings which form an integral part thereof and among which:

• FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of the device for opening / closing a hermetic package according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate, in a schematic view, the different stages of opening / closing the hermetic packaging,
• FIG. 5 shows, according to a schematic view, a step additional to those of FIGS. 2 to 4 implementing the opening / closing device according to the invention,
• Figure 6 shows, in a schematic view an embodiment of the closure means according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a device opening / closing an airtight packaging, in particular intended for the conservation of food products.

However, this device also applies to packaging hermetic intended for any other product and for example for the conservation of pharmaceutical or chemical products.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the opening / closing device 1 according to the invention of a package hermetic 3 comprises piercing means 2 of the wall of said packaging 3. The opening / closing device 1 also includes obturation means 4 through which the drilling of packaging 3.

According to the invention, said shutter means 4 are able to close after piercing when said piercing means 2 are removed so as to prevent any contact between the interior of the packaging 3 and the environment.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, said means shutter 4 consist of at least one element 5 secured to the wall of said packaging 3. Advantageously, said element 5 is disposed on the exterior side so as to facilitate its location.

However, in particular in the case of a package 3 consisting a transparent wall, said element 5 can be placed on the inside of said wall.

The subjection between said element 5 and the wall is carried out preferably by gluing. However, any other means known to man of the profession in the field of fixing could be envisaged and in particular by example a heat seal of said element 5 on said wall of said package 3.

However, in another embodiment of the invention, said sealing means 4 are integrated at the level of the wall of said packaging 3. To this end, said hermetic packaging 3 may be produced from advantageously by bi-injection.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, said means shutter 4 consist of at least one thermoplastic material advantageously of the elastomer type. This thermoplastic material must have specific characteristics allowing when said means shutter 4 are drilled, to close the hole created. For this, said at least a material used must have a high coefficient of elasticity and also an average hardness so that said sealing means 4 have a good behavior and the hole closes instantly, that is to say at no moment the ambient medium does not come into contact with the interior medium of packaging 3.

After various tests and trials, it was found that material with elastic coefficients between 600 and 700%, even between 550 and 650%, as well as a hardness between 35 and 55 shores, even between 55 and 90 shores, is particularly well suited to form said shutter 4.

In the case of an airtight packaging application 3 intended for the conservation of food products, we will choose advantageously closure means 4 made of a material marketed under the brand name "VITAPRENE", said material having a shore hardness close to 40 and a coefficient of elongation close to 650%, the wall of the hermetic packaging 4 consisting of a polyethylene film or polyamide

That said, this example is of course non-limiting, by way of For example, it is possible to use materials sold under the “SANTOPRENE” and “SANDOZ” brands with characteristics of similar hardness and coefficient of elongation.

In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the sealing means 4 consist of at least one element 5 secured to the wall of the packaging, the securing is preferably carried out by an adhesive of the type One-component cyanoacrylate with low viscosity and rapid polymerization, this type of glue is sold in particular under the “LOCTITE” brand.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, said means shutter 4 are in the form of washers. The dimensions of the shutter washer are determined on the one hand to be sufficient to allow easy positioning of the piercing means 2 and other relatively small part so as to require a minimum of material, the cost is high.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, said shutter washer 5 is made from a single material.

However, it is possible to consider, depending on the application, the use of a sealing washer 5 made from two materials. Indeed, it was noted that when the piercing was carried out on flexible packaging and / or whose content is not rigid, it is preferable, to avoid absorption of the material constituting said washer 5 and for increase the tightness of the packaging at the piercing level, to achieve said washer 5 from two materials.

Referring to Figure 6, we see that the washer is consisting of a ring 15, circumscribing a disc 14 so that said ring 15 constitutes a strapping, or even crimping of the disc 14.

Said ring 15 has a lower coefficient of elongation and a rigidity greater than that of the disc 14.

As an example in the final state, the ring 15 has substantially an inside diameter of 20 mm and an outside diameter of 24 mm, while the diameter of the disc 14 is substantially 20 mm, the washer then has a diameter of 24 mm substantially.

The materials used for said ring 15 and said disc 14 are preferably a typical thermoplastic material respectively elastomer with a hardness close to 70 shores and a coefficient of elasticity close to 600, for the ring and a thermoplastic elastomer type of hardness close to 40 shores and elasticity coefficient close to 650, for the disk.

According to an advantageous embodiment, said washer 5 is obtained by introducing a cylinder of the material constituting the disc 14 to inside a tube of the material constituting the ring 15 and by cutting out thickness slices preferably between 4 and 10 mm.

In order to facilitate the insertion of said cylinder, the tube is placed under pressure so as to increase its internal diameter.

To resume the case of the previous example of the washer with a diameter of 24 mm, choose a cylinder with a diameter of 20 mm and a tube outside diameter 20 mm. Thus, after being forced-in, the cylinder is under stress and radially compressed.

However, it was found that the use of a washer which the diameter is advantageously between 12 and 20 mm, or even 12 and 24 mm, was a good compromise.

It has been found that to obtain a good closure of the packaging ensuring its airtightness, the thickness of the washer should be proportional to its diameter and advantageously, the coefficient of proportionality is close to 3, thus in the case of a washer whose diameter is between 12 and 24 mm, the thickness of said washer will be preferably between 4 and 8 mm.

Depending on the applications, said opening / closing device 1 allows access to the contents of said sealed package 3 to allow injection and / or aspiration of liquid or semi-liquid into and / or out of packaging or possibly provide data on the environment inside the packaging 3. To this end, provision is made, at the level of said means for drilling 2, injection and / or suction means 6. For obtaining data, provision is also made at said piercing means 2 at minus one sensor 7.

Said injection and / or suction means 6 are constituted a pump 8 connected to, on the one hand, one or more reservoirs intended either for contain liquids or semi-liquids to be injected into said packaging 3, either intended to collect liquids or semi-liquids sucked out of said packaging 3 and, on the other hand, a conduit 9 disposed at said means of drilling 2 so as to allow the injection and / or aspiration of liquids or semi-liquids in and / or out of the packaging by preventing any contact between the interior environment of the package 3 and the ambient environment.

Likewise, said sensor 7 enabling data to be obtained on the interior of the packaging is disposed at said means of drilling 2 so as to prevent any contact between the interior medium of packaging and the environment, especially when obtaining data. Said sensor 7 is preferably connected to a control and data visualization 10.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, said means piercing 2 consist of a hollow needle 11 having an orifice 12 at the level of the part piercing the wall of said packaging 3. The shape of said hollow needle 11 allows in particular the insertion of said injection means and / or aspiration 6, injection and / or aspiration of liquids or semi-liquids being made through said orifice 12. In fact, said orifice 12 allows contact between the interior of the packaging 3 and the interior of said needle 12.

To avoid contacting the interior of the packaging 3 and the environment, said hollow needle 11 has only one opening constituted by said orifice 12. This orifice 12 to prevent any contact between the interior medium of the package 3 and the ambient medium has dimensions determined so that, during the perforation, the orifice cannot put in contact the interior environment of the package 3 and the ambient environment.

So, for example, in the case of a perforation perpendicular to the plane defined by said wall, the dimension of said orifice 12 along the perforation axis is less than the total width of said means of drilling 4 and the wall of said packaging 3.

In a variant of the invention, it is also possible consider an orifice 12 having opening / closing means, the orifice 12 then being blocked when the orifice is outside the packaging, and open when the opening is inside the packaging.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the operation of the opening / closing device 1 is as follows. In a first step, shown in Figure 2, said piercing means 2 formed in the example by the hollow needle 11 are preferably positioned vertically said sealing means 4.

In a second step, we carry out the drilling of said sealing means 4 and the wall of the packaging 3. At this stage, notes that the wall 3 is broken, we also note that said means shutter 4 formed by said element 5 are drilled.

Given the physical characteristics of the material used for said element 5, the edge 5a of element 5 presses against the edges of said needle 11 thus preventing any contact between the interior medium of packaging 3 and the surrounding environment. At this stage, illustrated by FIG. 3, the orifice 12 of said needle 11 is in contact with the interior of the packaging 3, it it is therefore possible to aspirate or inject liquids or semi-liquids from injection and / or suction means 6. It is also, at this stage, possible by means of sensor 7 to obtain data on the indoor environment of packaging 3 and in particular temperature measurements.

At this level, it is important to emphasize that to guarantee the tightness of the packaging, it is advantageous to choose for the needle a diameter representing approximately a quarter, or even a quarter to a sixth, the diameter of the washer.

By way of example, according to a first embodiment, the needle 11 has a diameter of 5 mm and defines an internal conduit of 3 mm diameter, and the washer has a diameter of 24 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. The injection and / or suction means 6 allow the suction of one liter of liquid in 45 seconds.

According to a second embodiment, the needle 11 has a diameter of 4 mm, and defines an internal conduit of 2 mm in diameter, and the washer has a diameter of 24 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. Ways injection and / or suction 6 allow the suction of a liter of liquid in 1 minute.

The choice of needle and washer dimensions will be generally determined, on the one hand, by the time available for injection and or suction operations and, on the other hand, by the quantities of liquids and / or semi-liquids to be injected or aspirated.

In a third step, and referring to FIG. 4, we have withdrawn said needle 11 from said packaging 3. It can be seen at this level that said packaging 3 remains pierced. When the needle 11 is withdrawn, the flank 5a created by piercing said element 5 follows the shape of the needle 11, when it is removed, the sides 5a touch and the hole is closed instantly, the flanks sticking together taking into account the material (s) used for the washer. Thus, at no time, the interior environment of the packaging 3 was not in contact with the ambient environment.

At this level, it is important to note that when the packaging hermetic 3 is vacuum packaging, said side 5a is, when removing said needle 11, drawn towards the inside of said packaging 3, this aspiration ensures even greater airtightness.

Thanks to the depression and the material of the washer 5, there are somehow self-sealing. Note that this effect is further enhanced, in the case of the variant illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the ring 15 radially compresses the material of the disc 14.

It is also possible to consider in a variant so to further improve the hermeticity of the heat-seal packaging during removal of the needle 11, said element 5. For this purpose, according to an exemplary embodiment preferred, heat welding is carried out using a soldering iron, the end is of conical shape making it possible to produce as shown in the FIG. 5 a material cone 13 placed at the base of the hole made in the packaging wall 3.

This device therefore makes it possible, in particular in the case where it is intended for the conservation of food products, not to have to unpack the products then repackage them and therefore only use one packaging, which gives this device an ecological and significant economic compared to known devices.

The present invention also relates to a packaging 3 equipped with sealing means 4 as mentioned above.

Naturally, other embodiments of the device could have been envisaged by a person skilled in the art without thereby leaving the subject of the invention defined by the claims below.

Claims (13)

Opening / closing device (1) of an airtight package (3), in particular intended for the preservation of food products, characterized in that it comprises piercing means (2), sealing means (4) through which the packaging (3) is pierced, said sealing means (4) being able to close after piercing when the piercing means (2) are removed so as to prevent any contact between the interior medium of the package (3) and the ambient medium. Opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means (4) consist of at least one element (5) secured to the wall of said packaging (3). Opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means (4) are integrated at the level of the wall of said packaging (3). Opening / closing device according to claim 3, wherein said element (5) is glued and / or welded to the wall of said package (3). Opening / closing device according to any one of previous claims, wherein said shutter means (4) are made of a thermoplastic material with shore hardness between 55 and 90 and a coefficient of elasticity preferably between between 550 and 650%. Opening / closing device according to claim 5, wherein said closure means (4) are in the form of a washer, the diameter is between 12 and 24 mm and the ratio between the diameter and the thickness is close to 3. Opening / closing device according to claim 6, in which the washer 5 consists of a ring 15, circumscribing a disc 14, so that said ring 15 constitutes a strapping, or even a disc crimping 14. Opening / closing device according to claim 7, wherein said ring (15) has a higher hardness and a coefficient of elongation less than said disc (14). Opening / closing device according to any one of previous claims, wherein there is provided, in said means piercing (2), injection and / or suction means (6) allowing injection and / or aspiration of liquids or semi-liquids into and / or out of the packaging by preventing any contact between the interior environment of the packaging (3) and the surrounding environment. Opening / closing device according to any one of previous claims, wherein there is provided, in said means drilling (2), at least one sensor (7) enabling data to be obtained on the interior of the packaging (3) preventing any contact between the interior of the packaging (3) and the ambient environment. Opening / closing device according to any of previous claims, wherein said piercing means (2) are consisting of a hollow needle (11) having an orifice (12) at the level of the part piercing the wall of said package (3). Packaging equipped with sealing means (4) according to one any of claims 1 to 6. Blanking washer (5), intended to equip a device opening / closing according to any one of claims 1 to 9 preceding.

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