EP1888408B1 - Device for filling a container of collapsible type - Google Patents

Device for filling a container of collapsible type Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1888408B1
EP1888408B1 EP06747844.6A EP06747844A EP1888408B1 EP 1888408 B1 EP1888408 B1 EP 1888408B1 EP 06747844 A EP06747844 A EP 06747844A EP 1888408 B1 EP1888408 B1 EP 1888408B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
end element
container
end portion
duct
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP06747844.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1888408A1 (en
EP1888408A4 (en
Inventor
Per Gustafsson
Lennart Friberg
Stefan Forss
Rikard WIRÈN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ecolean AB
Original Assignee
Ecolean AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ecolean AB filed Critical Ecolean AB
Publication of EP1888408A1 publication Critical patent/EP1888408A1/en
Publication of EP1888408A4 publication Critical patent/EP1888408A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1888408B1 publication Critical patent/EP1888408B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B3/17—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles for filling valve bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
    • B65B39/004—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves moving linearly
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/06—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers adapted to support containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/08—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers adapted to support containers or wrappers by means of clamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D31/00—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D31/06—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents with rigid end walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/008—Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a product in the form of powder or liquid, and more specifically such a device which comprises a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable into a filling duct of the container to supply a product to the compartment of the container through said filling tube.
  • One type of container is collapsible and comprises two flexible side walls and a bottom wall, which walls are interconnected along a connecting portion to form a compartment whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls.
  • This type of container can, before filling, be in a plane and sealed state. This makes it possible to sterilise the compartment of the container in connection with manufacture and, with maintained sterility, distribute the container to a filling plant, such as a dairy.
  • a container of the type described above is known from WO99/41155 which also discloses a device for filling the container.
  • Said device comprises a nozzle which is insertable into a filling duct of the container, said filling duct being opened by cutting or a similar operation in connection with filling of the container.
  • said nozzle is thus inserted into the filling duct, after which a product valve is opened to supply the desired product quantity to the compartment of the container through said nozzle.
  • the compartment will then take a volume which substantially corresponds to the volume of the supplied product. The filling process ensures that penetration of air into the compartment is prevented or at least minimised.
  • the filling device disclosed in WO99/4115 comprises more specifically a nozzle which is made of an elastic material, such as silicone rubber.
  • the nozzle has an end portion which tapers towards an outlet in the form a gap in the lower end surface of the end portion.
  • the nozzle is self-closing, which means that the edge portions which define said gap engage each other in the absence of application of outer forces.
  • the nozzle is, as mentioned above, inserted into the filling duct of the container, after which the product is supplied to the compartment through said nozzle.
  • the product pressure will act to open the nozzle and at the same time to establish a seal between the nozzle and the walls of the filling duct to ensure that air does not penetrate into the container.
  • Faster filling can be achieved with an increased product flow velocity, which results in a higher product pressure. It has been found that an increased product pressure may in some cases result in the product being pressed out of the compartment of the container between the nozzle and the walls of the filling duct. For obvious reasons, this causes problems in maintaining a hygienic environment in the filling device.
  • a device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a product in the form of powder or liquid, said container having a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls and which communicates with the surroundings through a filing duct of the container.
  • the device comprises a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable into said filling duct of the container to supply a product to the compartment of the container through said filling tube.
  • the device is characterised by an end element, which is arranged in an outlet of the end portion and which is movable between a first position, in which the end element sealingly connects to said outlet, and a second position, in which the end element together with the outlet defines a filling passage, and a squeezing means, which is adapted to grasp the end portion and the filling duct when said end portion is inserted into said filling duct to establish a seal between the end portion and the filling duct.
  • the inventive device ensures that a container of a collapsible type can be filled in a short time without the risk of the product escaping from the container.
  • the filling passage is defined by the end element when the end element is in its second position. This makes it possible to provide a relatively large area of the filling passage, which in turn allows a rapid filling process.
  • the filling passage can be arranged to have the shape of a circumferential gap.
  • the squeezing means ensures that the product cannot escape from the container during said filling process.
  • the squeezing means is arranged to grasp the end portion of the filling tube and the filling duct.
  • said end element is supported by a piston rod arranged in said filling tube, in which case the end element can be movable between said first and second position by axial displacement of said piston rod.
  • a bevel may be arranged adjacent to the connection between said piston rod and said end element. This ensures that the product flowing out of the filling tube through the filling passage is allowed to flow over the end element relatively unimpededly.
  • said end element supports an 0-ring, which in the first position of the end element engages the outlet. This ensures that the end element in said first position sealingly connects to the outlet.
  • the end element may have a shape tapering from the filling tube. This makes it possible to facilitate the insertion of the end portion of the filling tube into the filling duct of the container.
  • the end element may have the shape of a wedge, in which case a base of the end element can be circular or have the shape of a convex lens, also referred to as a convex-convex lens.
  • said end portion of the filling tube can be made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel.
  • the squeezing means may comprise elastic engaging surfaces which are arranged to grasp said filling duct and said end portion. As a result, the squeezing means can be made to carefully grasp the end portion and the filling duct while at the same time a reliable seal is established.
  • said end element has a liquid-repellent surface. This makes it possible to minimise dripping and depositing of product on the walls of the filling duct.
  • the present invention relates to a device for filling a container of a collapsible type.
  • a container of this type may comprise two opposite side walls and a bottom wall, which walls are interconnected along a connecting portion and define a compartment whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls.
  • a filling duct of the container which filling duct can be defined by said side walls, makes its compartment communicate with surroundings. In the unfilled state of the container, the filling duct can be sealed, in which case the duct is opened before filling. This makes it possible to ensure in a simple way that containers with sterile compartments are used in the inventive device.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an inventive device 1 for filling the above described container.
  • the device 1 comprises as main components a filling tube 2, a squeezing means 3 and an end element 4.
  • the filling tube 2 is connected to a source (not shown) for the product that is to be supplied to the container and is terminated with an end portion 5.
  • the end portion 5 has an outlet 6.
  • the end element 4 is arranged in the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 and is movably arranged between a first position, in which the end element 4 sealingly connects to said outlet 6, as shown in Fig. 1 , and a second position, in which the end element 4 together with said outlet 6 defines a filling passage 7, which is shown in Fig. 3b .
  • said filling passage 7 takes the shape of a circumferential gap, but it will be appreciated that other shapes are conceivable.
  • the end element 4 supports a seal 8 in the form of an 0-ring. In the first position of the end element 4, said 0-ring engages the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 to ensure that the end element 4 sealingly connects to said outlet 6.
  • the end element 4 is supported by a piston rod 9 arranged centrally in said filling tube 2.
  • the piston rod 9 is axially movable by means of a suitably designed arrangement, and by moving said piston rod 9 in the axial direction, said end element 4 is thus movable between said first and second position.
  • the squeezing means 3 comprises a pair of jaws 10, which are arranged to grasp the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2.
  • the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel, and the pair of jaws 4 have elastic engaging surfaces 11.
  • FIGs 2a and b illustrate the method for filling a container 12.
  • a container 12 is first positioned under the inventive device 1.
  • the filling duct 13 of the container 12 has been opened by cutting or a similar operation, whereby the compartment of the container 12 communicates with the surroundings through said filling duct 13.
  • the positioning of containers can be performed in various ways, for instance by means of an arrangement of laterally movable gripping means, from which the containers are suspended (not shown).
  • Fig. 2b the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is inserted into the filling duct 13 of the container 12 with the end element 4 in its first position.
  • the squeezing means 3 has been activated so that its pair of jaws 10 grasps the end portion 5 and thus also the filling duct 13. Since the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is made of a rigid material while the engaging surfaces 11 of the pair of jaws 10 are elastic, a reliable seal is established between said filling duct 13 and said end portion 5, which does not risk damaging the side walls of the container 1, which define said filling duct 13.
  • the end element 4 is in its first position when the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is inserted into the filling duct 13 of the container 1, which is shown more distinctly in Fig. 3a .
  • the end element 4 can be moved to its second position, which is shown in Fig. 3b .
  • the product will then flow out of the thus defined filling passage 7 and into the compartment of the container 12.
  • the compartment of the container 12 will be expanded in response to the entering product like a balloon which is being inflated.
  • the seal provided by the squeezing means 3 ensures that products cannot be pressed out of the container 12 between the filling duct 13 and the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2.
  • the filling process is terminated by the end element 4 again being moved to its first position, after which the pair of jaws 10 of the squeezing means 3 is opened and the end portion 5 is pulled out of the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Subsequently the filling duct 13 can be sealed in a suitable manner, for instance by a heat sealing process.
  • the time required for filling a container 12 with the product in question is dependent on the flow velocity of the product and also the area of the filling passage 7. Since the end element 4 is movable between said first and second position, said area can be adjusted as desired, by moving the end element 4 to a suitable position between said first and second position.
  • the inventive device 1 makes it possible to provide a relatively large area of the filling passage 7, which for obvious reasons has a positive effect on the filling time of a container 1.
  • the squeezing means 3 ensures that the rapid filling of the container 12 can be performed without the product escaping from the compartment of the container 12.
  • the end element 4 can be designed in various ways and be given a shape tapering from the filling tube 2 in order to facilitate the insertion of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 into the filling duct 13 of the container 12.
  • the end element 4 shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upper part 14 and a lower part 15 in the shape of a tapering wedge, which is to be seen more clearly in Fig. 4 .
  • the upper part 14 has been given a shape which substantially corresponds to the shape of a convex lens.
  • the upper part 14 further has a central through hole 16, which is enclosed by a bevel 17.
  • the lower part 15 has the shape of a tapering wedge.
  • the upper side of the lower part 15 thus forms a base which has a shape which, similarly to the upper part 14, substantially corresponds to the shape of a convex lens.
  • a peripheral groove 18 is formed in the upper side of the lower part.
  • a central, threaded non-through hole 19 is formed in said lower part 15.
  • the piston rod 9 has a connecting portion 22 provided with a thread 20 and a stop lug 21.
  • the connecting portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is inserted through the hole 16 in the upper part 14 until the upper part is made to engage said stop lug 21.
  • the connecting portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is screwed into the threaded hole 19 of the lower part 15.
  • a seal 8 in the form of an O-ring is arranged in the peripheral groove 18 of the lower part 15, which 0-ring thus will be squeezed against the upper part 14. The 0-ring ensures, as described above, that the end element 4, when in said first position, sealingly connects to the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2.
  • An end element 4 formed in the manner described above thus has a shape which facilitates the insertion of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 into the filling duct 13.
  • An opening means (not shown) can be arranged for initial separation of the walls of the filling duct 13. This opening means may comprise suction cups which stick to the respective duct walls, which suction cups are then separated for separation of the duct walls.
  • the bevel 17 which encloses the hole 16 formed in the upper part 14 ensures that the product flowing out of the filling tube 2 through the filling passage 7 is allowed to flow over the end element 4 relatively unimpededly. This eliminates, or in any case reduces, the tendency of the product flowing out to impinge on the upper side of the end element and be deflected upwards or sideways.
  • the end element 4 may have a liquid-repellent surface. This minimises the risk of dripping and depositing of product on the walls of the filling duct 13 after completion of the filling and removal of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 from the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Of course, this helps to maintain good hygienic conditions in connection with the filling process.
  • the end element 4 can thus be in the shape of a tapering wedge with a circular base, as illustrated in Fig. 7.
  • the round base shape results in the product, when flowing over the end element 4, having a symmetric flow pattern, thereby making it possible to completely eliminate the tendency of the product flowing out to be deflected upwards or sideways.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supply Of Fluid Materials To The Packaging Location (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
EP06747844.6A 2005-06-08 2006-06-02 Device for filling a container of collapsible type Active EP1888408B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0501320A SE528731C2 (sv) 2005-06-08 2005-06-08 Anordning för fyllning av en förpackning av kollapsande slag
PCT/SE2006/000650 WO2006132578A1 (en) 2005-06-08 2006-06-02 Device for filling of a container of collapsible type

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1888408A1 EP1888408A1 (en) 2008-02-20
EP1888408A4 EP1888408A4 (en) 2014-07-30
EP1888408B1 true EP1888408B1 (en) 2016-03-09

Family

ID=37498710

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06747844.6A Active EP1888408B1 (en) 2005-06-08 2006-06-02 Device for filling a container of collapsible type

Country Status (19)

Country Link
US (1) US20090078337A1 (es)
EP (1) EP1888408B1 (es)
JP (1) JP4890542B2 (es)
KR (1) KR101309539B1 (es)
CN (1) CN100532203C (es)
AU (1) AU2006255845B2 (es)
BR (1) BRPI0611180B1 (es)
CA (1) CA2610259C (es)
DK (1) DK1888408T3 (es)
EA (1) EA011536B1 (es)
ES (1) ES2573673T3 (es)
HK (1) HK1123781A1 (es)
HU (1) HUE028776T2 (es)
MX (1) MX2007015568A (es)
NZ (1) NZ563479A (es)
PL (1) PL1888408T3 (es)
SE (1) SE528731C2 (es)
UA (1) UA91227C2 (es)
WO (1) WO2006132578A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE530449C2 (sv) * 2006-10-26 2008-06-10 Ecolean Res & Dev As Anordning för fyllning av förpackningar av kollapsande slag
SE534056C2 (sv) * 2008-07-02 2011-04-12 Ecolean Res & Dev As System för fyllning av förpackningar av kollapsande slag
KR20150130546A (ko) * 2013-03-15 2015-11-23 닥터.피와이 인스터튜트, 엘엘씨 제어된 비-분류 충전 장치 및 방법
PL3067282T3 (pl) * 2015-03-13 2018-10-31 Ecolean Ab Urządzenie i sposób napełniania opakowania w typie woreczka
USD829896S1 (en) 2015-09-15 2018-10-02 Dr. Py Institute Llc Septum
WO2017049015A1 (en) 2015-09-15 2017-03-23 Dr. Py Institute Llc Septum that decontaminates by interaction with penetrating element
DE102017006886A1 (de) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Kiefel Gmbh VORRICHTUNG ZUM VERLÄNGERN EINER FOLIE UND ZUM VERSCHWEIßEN DER FOLIE MIT EINEM EINE ACHSRICHTUNG AUFWEISENDEN ANSCHLUSSTEIL SOWIE VERFAHREN, HERSTELLVERFAHREN, ANLAGE UND BEUTEL
US10837432B1 (en) * 2019-08-21 2020-11-17 Mike Kaminski Tabletop inflation system

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2417445A2 (fr) * 1978-02-15 1979-09-14 Vittel Eaux Min Recipient en matiere synthetique, mince et souple
GB2190901B (en) * 1986-05-29 1990-03-28 Ingerthorpe Holdings Ltd Dispensing device
GB8725026D0 (en) * 1987-10-26 1987-12-02 Elopak As Valve device
DE8805620U1 (de) * 1988-04-28 1988-06-09 "Fix" Peter Steimel GmbH & Co KG, 5202 Hennef Vorrichtung zur Befüllung eines Kunststoffsacks
JPH01294402A (ja) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-28 Fujimori Kogyo Kk 起泡性液体の充填方法
JPH0958615A (ja) * 1995-08-25 1997-03-04 Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd 液状物充填ノズル
JP2937088B2 (ja) * 1995-09-27 1999-08-23 サンスター技研株式会社 高粘性材料充填方法並びにその方法に用いる充填装置
IT1285990B1 (it) * 1996-11-22 1998-06-26 Bieffe Medital Spa Sistema per la formatura e il riempimento di sacche flessibili
SE513561C2 (sv) * 1998-02-17 2000-10-02 Eco Lean Ab Behållare, sätt och anordning för att framställa en behållare samt sätt och anordning för att fylla en behållare
SE520351C2 (sv) * 1998-02-17 2003-07-01 Eco Lean Res & Dev As Fyllmetod och fyllanordning
US7017796B2 (en) * 2000-07-31 2006-03-28 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Method of manufacturing paper packaging container and paper packaging container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL1888408T3 (pl) 2016-09-30
CA2610259A1 (en) 2006-12-14
KR101309539B1 (ko) 2013-09-24
CA2610259C (en) 2011-09-13
DK1888408T3 (en) 2016-04-11
US20090078337A1 (en) 2009-03-26
SE0501320L (sv) 2006-12-09
JP4890542B2 (ja) 2012-03-07
NZ563479A (en) 2010-02-26
BRPI0611180B1 (pt) 2018-03-20
MX2007015568A (es) 2008-03-06
UA91227C2 (ru) 2010-07-12
JP2008543678A (ja) 2008-12-04
WO2006132578A1 (en) 2006-12-14
HUE028776T2 (en) 2017-01-30
HK1123781A1 (en) 2009-06-26
BRPI0611180A2 (pt) 2010-08-24
CN101193799A (zh) 2008-06-04
EA011536B1 (ru) 2009-04-28
AU2006255845A1 (en) 2006-12-14
CN100532203C (zh) 2009-08-26
EP1888408A1 (en) 2008-02-20
SE528731C2 (sv) 2007-02-06
ES2573673T3 (es) 2016-06-09
KR20080013962A (ko) 2008-02-13
EA200702581A1 (ru) 2008-04-28
EP1888408A4 (en) 2014-07-30
AU2006255845B2 (en) 2009-11-19

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