EP1966064B1 - Improved valve bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The bag valve for aerosol cans has a flexible bag (4) which is rolled around the valve (6) but elongates as it is filled. It has flaps (16) at the base which are folded inwards and is held in the rolled position by a label (7) with rupturable perforated lines (17).

Description

The invention relates to an improved pocket valve.

A pocket valve is used in a dispenser for a pressurized product such as an aerosol can.

In general, a pocket valve comprises a flexible pouch of waterproof material which is for example manufactured by two superimposed synthetic layers and welded together at their circumference, leaving an opening which is closed by a valve allowing the bag to be filled with the desired product.

Such a pocket valve is often rolled up or folded back, much like a cigar, and is held in a rolled-up position by a label glued around the wound pocket valve , as described in WO 02/062679 A , WO 02/062678 A or CH 680 849 A .

This wound pocket valve is then introduced into a container with an opening which is plugged by the valve of the pocket valve.

The dispenser thus obtained by assembling the bag valve in the container is then filled, on the one hand, with the product to be dispensed which is introduced under pressure into the bag valve and, on the other hand, with a gas under pressure. which fills the space formed between the container and the bag valve and serves as a source of pressure to dispense the product when the valve is actuated by means of a pulverizer button mounted on the valve.

During the product filling phase, the label that holds the bag valve in the wound position is broken by the filling pressure of the product which causes the bag to swell while unwinding or unfolding the bag.

The length of the rolled pocket valve is chosen according to the height of the container so that the length is equal to the height of the container in order to be able to contain a maximum amount of product.

Only during the filling of the product, the length of the pocket valve is shortened as the bag fills because the bag swells and expands laterally, which has the disadvantage that the filled bag does not rely on the bottom of the container and that, therefore, the bag with the weight of the product is totally suspended from the valve, resulting in the bag is easily torn in case the dispenser is accidentally dropped. The document EP 0 549 096 A1 describes an embodiment of the pocket with a folded bottom that compensates for the loss of height during filling. The pocket of this document comprises two walls between which is inserted at the bottom a bellows. In the empty state, the length of the pocket - and therefore the walls - is less than or equal to the inner height of the container. After filling, the bellows opens and bears against the convex bottom of the container. Although this solution makes it possible to partially compensate for the loss of height of the pocket after filling, it does not make it possible to optimally occupy the lower space of the container.

When the bag is unfolding during the filling of the product another problem arises in that the bag often has two laterally extending wedges which extend laterally and which impede the unwinding movement by the contact of its corners with the inner wall of the container. so that the pocket remains twisted around the valve. On the one hand, this torsion of the pocket causes a weakening of the pocket which can cause the rupture of the pocket by the effect of the torsion itself, or by the fact that, because of the torsion, the filling volume of the bag is not sufficient to contain the amount of product injected during automated filling.

On the other hand, the torsional weakening causes a faster rupture of the pocket when the distributor falls to the ground.

A disadvantage of using the tag to hold the bag valve in a wound position is that this tag interferes with the deployment of the bag, thereby causing a twist during the filling phase, resulting in a loss as described above.

The invention aims to avoid one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a pocket valve that allows a certain filling of a dispenser comprising such a valve while reducing the risk of torsion and the risk of rupture of the pocket during the filling phase of the container or during an accidental fall of the filled dispenser.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an improved pocket valve which comprises a flexible bag made of waterproof material and which is provided with an opening closed by a valve to fill the bag with a desired product, the empty bag being wound or folded about a longitudinal axis and held in a wound position, the bag being provided with means for extending the bag when it is filled with the desired product, characterized in that the lengthening means of the bag are constituted by a flap made by folding up the free end of the bag before winding or folding the empty bag around the longitudinal axis.

In this way we obtain that the pocket, once filled, rests on the bottom of the container, which reduces the risk of rupture of the bag during a fall.

These means allowing the lengthening of the bag during filling are advantageously achieved by the fact that the bottom of the bag is folded towards the inside of the empty bag by forming flaps that can be folded upwards.

The shape of the upper portion of the empty and unrolled pouch is preferably tapered so that the width of the empty pouch decreases toward the location of the valve.

Thus, the shape of the pocket has the advantage of not hampering the movement of the unwinding or deployment of the bag during the filling phase.

Another way to achieve this advantage would be to fold the top corners of the pocket inward before winding the pocket.

The empty bag valve is held wrapped or folded by means of a label affixed around the bag, this tag having one or more transverse lines with spaced perforations. These perforations have the effect that, during the filling phase, the label is torn at a specific location predetermined by the location of the perforations, thus reducing the risk of torsion of the bag during filling.

The risk of torsion of the pocket is also reduced by providing a rectangular self-adhesive label whose central portion is only partially provided with an adhesive, the adhesive being preferably provided in an hourglass-shaped zone.

In the case where the bag is still twisted after filling the bag, the evacuation of the product during the use of the dispenser is made easier by the use of a dip tube whose length corresponds approximately to the length of the bag. the pocket and which is preferably fitted on a tip of the valve.

This dip tube has the advantage that it promotes the evacuation of the product during the use of the dispenser, even if the bag is not compressed in a symmetrical manner and that part of the product is trapped in a part of the separate pocket, because the dip tube creates a vent path through and around the dip tube.

In the case of the dip tube, the valve is preferably provided with two passages which are in communication with the interior of the pocket, one passage leading into the dip tube, the other passage leading into the pocket above the aforementioned tip.

This promotes the rapid filling of the bag since the product is injected by an additional passage vis-à-vis the existing distributors that have only one pass.

To avoid leakage where the bag is attached to the valve, the contour of the body of the valve is usually oval or diamond-shaped. To reduce the twisting effect of the pocket on the valve, the length of the body contour of the valve is preferably as small as possible, but at least twice the width of said contour. This also to be able to pre-orient the contour of the body of the valve before welding in the pocket on the production lines of these valves-pockets.

According to a preferred embodiment, the body of the valve comprises an inner part and an outer part, these parts being manufactured in two different materials, that is to say the inner part of impermeable synthetic material for liquefied gases and the outer part in a material suitable for welding the inner layer of the bag which is made of PE or PP material, or others.

This allows the use of liquefied gases as a propellant while maintaining the ability to secure the pocket to the valve. The advantage of using liquefied gases to eject the product during the use of the dispenser is that the pressure of compression remains constant and hardly decreases when the quantity of the product and the quantity of the gases decrease.

la figure 1

est une vue en perspective d'une valve à poche vide selon l'invention ;

la figure 2

représente la valve à poche de la figure 1 mais introduite dans le récipient d'un distributeur de produit ;

la figure 3

représente la valve à poche de la figure 1, mais après remplissage avec un produit ;

les figures 4 et 5

représentent deux phases pendant La production d'une valve à poche selon la figure 1 ;

les figures 6 et 7

représentent des coupes respectivement selon les lignes VI-VI et VII-VII de la figure 5 ;

la figure 8

représente une autre phase de production de la valve à poche selon la figure 1 ;

la figure 9

représente l'étiquette indiquée par F9 dans la figure 1, mais dépliée ;

la figure 10

représente, à échelle agrandie, la partie indiquée par F10 dans la figure 6 ;

la figure 11

représente la même vue que celle de la figure 10, mais dans une autre position ;

la figure 12

est une coupe selon la ligne XII-XII de la figure 10 ;

les figures 13 et 14

représentent une réalisation différente d'une valve à poche selon l'invention.

For the sake of clarity, some examples of embodiment of an improved pocket valve according to the invention are described below by way of illustration and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1

is a perspective view of an empty pocket valve according to the invention;

Figure 2

represents the pocket valve of the figure 1 but introduced into the container of a product dispenser;

Figure 3

represents the pocket valve of the figure 1 but after filling with a product;

Figures 4 and 5

represent two phases during the production of a pocket valve according to the figure 1 ;

Figures 6 and 7

represent sections respectively along the lines VI-VI and VII-VII of the figure 5 ;

Figure 8

represents another production phase of the pocket valve according to the figure 1 ;

Figure 9

represents the label indicated by F9 in the figure 1 but unfolded;

Figure 10

represents, on an enlarged scale, the part indicated by F10 in the figure 6 ;

Figure 11

represents the same view as that of the figure 10 but in another position;

Figure 12

is a section along the line XII-XII of the figure 10 ;

Figures 13 and 14

represent a different embodiment of a pocket valve according to the invention.

In the Figures 1 and 2 is shown an improved pocket valve 1 according to the invention, intended to be mounted in a container 2 of a product dispenser as shown in FIG. figure 2 .

The improved pocket valve 1 comprises a flexible bag 4 made of waterproof material which is provided with an opening which is closed by the body 5 of a valve 6 to fill the bag 4 with a desired product, the empty bag 4 being curled or folded about a longitudinal axis XX 'and held in the wound position by a label 7 glued around the wound pocket 4.

In the case shown, the valve is fixed to the container 2 by means of a bowl 8 which serves as a cap for the container to create a closed compartment 9 between the container 2 and the bag 4 may contain a propellant.

After assembly of the bag valve 1 and the container 2, the bag 4 is filled under pressure with a desired product, while the compartment 9 is filled with a quantity of gas or liquefied gas.

The filling pressure of the product causes the bag 4 to swell, resulting in the rupture of the label 7 and the unwinding of the bag around the axis XX 'as represented in FIG. figure 3 .

After filling, the distributor 3 is completed as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 by introducing a spray or dispensing head 10 which is mounted on the valve 6 by means of a valve stem 11 which allows the pressurized ejection of the propellant and the spraying or dispensing of the product when the head is pressed. spraying 10.

Generally, pocket valves are mass produced as shown in FIG. figure 4 and are then cut from each other.

As shown in more detail in the Figures 5 to 7 , each pocket valve is manufactured by two layers 12 and 13 superimposed in waterproof synthetic material and a bottom 14 folded in double and interposed between these two layers 12 and 13, the two layers 12 and 13 and the bottom being welded together at the their contours 15 at the point where they are in mutual contact, to form two flaps 16 can be folded outwardly upwards as indicated by the arrows P.

In the case of the example of the figures, the two layers 12 and 13 and the bottom 14 are made in one piece folded in a certain way, but it is also possible that the layers 12 and 13 and the bottom 14 are separate pieces welded together.

As illustrated in figure 4 , the pockets 4 are in principle manufactured in series from a folded continuous strip that is scrolled below a welding machine that performs the welds of the contours 15 with well-defined intervals at the separations locations pockets 4, the welds having a shape which widens upwards to make pockets 4 whose upper part is tapered so that the width of the empty bag 4 decreases towards the location of the valve 6.

After welding, the pockets 4 are separated by cutting.

The pockets 4 thus separated are then wound around the axis X-X 'according to the arrows Q, after having folded the flaps 16.

A label 7, or if necessary several labels, are then glued around each rolled pocket to keep it wound up as indicated in FIG. figure 1 .

As stated in the figure 9 the labels are rectangular and have one or more transverse lines 17 with perforations 18 spaced apart to facilitate the breaking of the labels 7 when filling the pockets 4.

The label 7 is a self-adhesive label whose central portion is only partially provided with an adhesive 19, for example because the adhesive 19 is provided in a zone 20 of hourglass shape, against hourglass or other.

The construction of the valve 6 is shown in more detail in the Figures 10 to 12 .

The body 5 of the valve 6 is characterized by an oval-shaped or diamond-shaped contour whose length L is preferably at least twice the width M of the contour as indicated in FIG. figure 12 .

The valve 6 comprises a passage 21 for the discharge of the product out of the pocket 4 to the outside, the passage 21 being closable by a valve 22 which is housed in a chamber 23 formed by a portion of the passage 21 with a larger diameter. wide and whose rod 11 protrudes outwardly through a seal 24.

At rest, the valve 22 is held against the seal 24 as indicated in FIG. figure 10 , so that an internal passage 25 of the valve 22 is closed in this position, while the passage 25 is open when the rod 11 of the valve 22 is depressed to output the product via the passage 21 of the valve 6 as indicated by the arrows R in the figure 11 .

The valve 6 is preferably provided with a tip 26 on which fits a plunger tube 27 which is in communication with the passage 21 of the valve 6 and whose length is less than or approximately equal to the length of the pocket 4.

In the example of the figures, the valve 6 is provided with a second passage 28 which is in communication with the inside of the pocket 4, this passage 28 leading into the pocket 4 above the level of the tip 26. These two passages 21 and 28 allow faster filling of the bag 4 with a product.

According to a feature of the invention, the body 5 of the valve 6 comprises an inner portion 29 and an outer portion 30 as shown in FIG. figure 12 the two parts 29 and 30 being made of two different materials, i.e. an inner part 29 of impervious synthetic material for liquefied gases and an outer part 30 in a material which is suitable for the use of a pocket 4 whose inner layer is made of PE or PP material or other weldable materials.

The use of a pocket valve 1 according to the invention for producing a product dispenser 3 is as follows.

The wound pocket valve 1 is introduced, the gas is introduced above and around the valve, then the valve is fixed in the container 2 to plug the container. It is also possible that the gas is injected into the container to a synthetic stopper, valve to others, which is located in the bottom of the container.

Then a quantity of product to distribute well determined is injected under pressure into the pocket 4 through the passages 21 and 28 which allow the rapid filling of the pocket 4.

By the injection pressure, the bag 4 inflates and tears the label 7 at the location of the lines 17 of perforations 18. The pocket 4 is unwound in the opposite direction of the arrows Q, while the flaps 16 are filled with the product. and unfold outwardly downward, thus allowing the pocket 4 to lengthen relative to the initial length, so that the bottom 14 rests on the bottom 31 of the container 2.

The dimensions and the shape of the pocket valve 1 are preferably such that the vacuum bag valve 1 does not touch the bottom 31 of the container 2 when it is mounted in the container and the pocket 4 of the pocket valve 1 rests on the bottom 31 of the container 2 when the bag 4 is filled.

As a result, the introduction of the empty bag valve into the container is not impeded by the length of the bag valve.

Indeed a pocket 1 wound or folded has a certain stiffness that could interfere with the introduction of the pocket valve 1 in the container 2 when it would be longer than the depth of the container because in this case the pocket valve 1 would hit the bottom of the container during its assembly. This could also damage the pocket valve.

Thanks to the construction of the label 7 and the conical shape of the bag 4, the unwinding of the bag 4 is practically unaffected by the label or by the friction of the bag 4 against the inner wall of the container 2 . The figure 14 is a variant of a pocket valve 1 according to the invention which is obtained from the pocket valve in the figure 13 which represents a two-layer pocket valve 12 and 13 superimposed being welded together at their contours 15, and whose lower free end is folded in double like a flap 32, as shown with the arrow P 'in the figure 14 , in order to reduce the length of the empty bag valve 1 and which is then rolled up or folded in the same way as in the previous figures.

The flap 32 thus folded can for example be held in position with a label 33 which comprises for example the same characteristics as a label 7.

When filling such a pocket valve 1, the flap 32 folded unfolded in the opposite direction to rest on the bottom 31 of the container, while tearing the label 33.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the examples described above but that many modifications can be made to the pocket valve described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims .

Claims (17)

1. Improved pouch valve that comprises a flexible pouch (4) manufactured from impervious material and provided with an opening closed off by a valve (6) for filling the pouch (4) with a desired product, the empty pouch (4) being coiled or folded around a longitudinal axis (X-X') and held in the coiled position, the pouch (4) being provided with means enabling the pouch (4) to be extended during its filling with the desired product, characterised in that the means of extending the pouch consist of a flap (16, 32) produced by folding the free end of the pouch upwards before the empty pouch (4) is coiled or folded around the longitudinal axis (X-X').
2. Pouch valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the flap (32) is held in place by a label (33).
3. Pouch valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the pouch (4) is provided with a bottom (14) folded towards the inside of the empty pouch (4), forming two flaps (16) that are folded upwards before the empty pouch (4) is coiled or folded around the longitudinal axis (X-X').
4. Pouch valve according to claim 3, characterised in that the pouch (4) is manufactured by means of two superimposed layers (12, 13) and a bottom (14) folded double and interposed between these two layers (12, 13), the two layers (12, 13) and the bottom (14) being welded together at their contours (15) at the point where they are in mutual contact, in order to form two flaps (16) able to be folded upwards.
5. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterise in that the form of the top part of the empty and uncoiled pouch (4) is conical so that the width of the empty pouch (4) decreases towards the position of the valve (6).
6. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top corners of the pouch (4) are folded towards the inside before the pouch (4) is coiled or folded.
7. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pouch (4) of the empty pouch valve (1) is kept coiled or folded by means of a label (7) bonded around.
8. Pouch valve according to claim 7, characterised in that the label (7) comprises one or more transverse lines (17) with spaced-apart perforations (18).
9. Pouch valve according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the label (7) is a rectangular self-adhesive label, the central part of which is only partially provided with an adhesive (19).
10. Pouch valve according to claim 9, characterised in that the adhesive (19) is provided in a zone (20) in the shape of an egg timer, its opposite, or the like.
11. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a plunger tube.
12. Pouch valve according to claim 11, characterised in that the valve (6) is provided with a connecting piece (26) for fixing the plunger tube (27).
13. Pouch valve according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the length of the plunger tube (27) corresponds approximately to the length of the pouch.
14. Pouch valve according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the valve (6) is provided with two passages (21, 28) that are in communication with the inside of the pouch (4), one passage (21) ending up in the plunger tube (27), the other passage (28) ending up in the pouch (4) above the aforementioned connecting piece (26),
15. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contour of the body (5) of the valve (6) is oval in shape or in the form of a diamond, the length (L) of which is as small as possible, but at least twice the width (M) of the contour.
16. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (5) of the valve (6) comprises an internal part (29) and an external part (30), the parts (29, 30) being manufactured from two different materials, that is to say the internal part (29) from synthetic material impermeable for liquefied gases and the external part (30) from a material suitable for welding an internal layer of the pouch (4) manufactured from PE or PP material or other weldable or bondable materials.
17. Pouch valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dimensions and shape of the pouch valve (1) are such that the empty pouch valve (1) does not touch the bottom (31) of the receptacle (2) when it is mounted in the receptacle (2) and the pouch (4) of the pouch valve (1) rests on the bottom (31) of the receptacle (2) when the pouch (4) is filled.

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