EP2825319B1 - Tubular bag with metering device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for metered delivery of a fluid from a tubular bag.

Under tubular pouches here are made of plastic film produced bags that are completely closed. Such tubular bags are machined by means of appropriate folding of a plastic film, whereupon they are completely closed by appropriate welds. Such tubular bags then have opening devices, which consists essentially of a nozzle with randständigem flange and this flange is welded onto the bag, wherein a cutting element is held in the nozzle and is screwed by a screw cap, so that at the first opening of the writing cap the Cutting element to the film moves in a screwing motion while the fully closed tubular bag opens. The advantage of such tubular bags with a corresponding opening device is that the content of the tubular bag is completely aseptically packaged and protected until the effective moment of use. typical Examples of such opening devices are known, for example from the JP 7040982 , the WO 9900308A . WO 2004/083055 or even from the EP 1533240 . EP 1795456 or the CH 695019 , These tubular bags and their opening device are mainly used in the food industry. These closures are particularly widespread in the field of fruit juices, mixed milk drinks or other types of beverages.

The EP 1228972 A1 discloses a method for introducing an outlet opening into a provided with an inner film packaging, in particular a carton, inserted in the emptying of powdery, granular or pasty products or liquids with a Einstechtülle in one of the inner film covered outlet opening of an inside arranged on the inner film adapter ring becomes. Subsequently, the injection spout is rotated, the outlet is at least largely cut free and created a sealing connection with the adapter ring.

But tubular bags with opening devices are also known in which the opening device is designed as a simple screw cap, wherein the closure device is welded between two film edges of the container. There are variants in which a cutting device cuts open a film of the tubular bag, such as from the EP 2143658 known or variants in which the bag itself remains open, but the closure has a sealing membrane, which is subsequently pierced by a screw cap. Such solutions show, for example, the US 6273307 or the US 2008/0073348 , Such and similar solutions are typically known in so-called refill bags as they are used in particular in the field of cosmetics for liquid soaps, shower or hair shampoos. With the refill bag then a solid container is filled, in which case the actual closure of that container is unscrewed and screwed back after the refilling process.

In gastronomy, however, much larger tubular bags are offered today as refill containers. In particular at fast food restaurants, viscous, pasty and often texotropic foods are dispensed in larger containers and are usually removed from them with a hand pump. These are today in particular large cans or plastic containers, which are provided with a simple screw cap and on which a hand-operated pump is placed. This has a variety of disadvantages. On the one hand, such containers are hardly bottled aseptically and after the first opening a reusable pump must be placed, which must be cleaned beforehand. In addition, when removing the screw cap and placing the appropriate pump ambient air enters the container. Thus, the content is no longer aseptic. Even after the pump has been put in place, air must be able to flow into the container to replace the pressed-out material in order to avoid a negative pressure in the container. However, since many such food products used in the catering industry can oxidise or otherwise be damaged by the contact with the ambient air, these products must therefore be better preserved by adding appropriate preservative additives. However, this is no longer accepted by consumers more and more.

It is now the object of the present invention to provide a device for the metered delivery of a fluid from a tubular bag, by means of which the aforementioned problems can be avoided. This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

This can be realized in a particularly simple and inexpensive manner by the metering pump preferably being realized as a disposable pump made of plastic.

Further advantageous embodiments of the inventive device are listed in the dependent claims and their meaning and effect will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

zeigt einen Schlauchbeutel mit darauf angebrachter Vorrichtung zur dosierten Abgabe eines Fluids in der Transportstellung vor der Erstbenutzung und

Fig. 2

denselben Schlauchbeutel mit derselben Vorrichtung in der Benutzungslage.

Fig. 3

zeigt die als Rotationsdosierpumpe gestaltete Vorrichtung für sich allein vor der Befestigung auf einem Schlauchbeutel.

Fig. 4

zeigt einen diametralen Vertikalschnitt durch einen zweiten, auf den Schlauchbeutel aufschweissbaren Stutzen mit Flansch, während

Fig. 5

den ersten Stutzen der fest mit der Rotationsdosierpumpe verbunden ist, für sich allein in einer Seitenansicht zeigt.

Fig. 6

stellt wiederum die Rotationsdosierpumpe für sich allein in perspektivischer Ansicht dar, und

Fig. 7

ein Detail davon in einem grösseren Massstab, während

Fig. 8

den zweiten Stutzen gemäss der Figur 4 in perspektivischer Ansicht schräg von oben zeigt, während

Fig. 9

ein Detail dieses zweiten Stutzens in einem grösseren Massstab darstellt.

Fig. 10

zeigt einen vertikalen Teilschnitt durch beide Stutzen in der Gebrauchslage, ebenso wie

Fig. 11

diese zeigt, hier jedoch sind beide Stutzen vollständig gezeigt unter Weglassung der eigentlichen Rotationsdosierpumpe.

Fig. 12a

dient der Verdeutlichung der Dichtung zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Stutzen in einer Zwischenstellung und

Fig. 12b

in der dichtenden Endstellung.

In the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is illustrated and described below. It shows:

Fig. 1

shows a tubular bag with attached device for metered delivery of a fluid in the transport position before first use and

Fig. 2

the same tubular bag with the same device in the use position.

Fig. 3

shows the designed as Rotationsdosierpumpe device by itself before attachment to a tubular bag.

Fig. 4

shows a diametrical vertical section through a second, weldable on the tubular bag neck with flange, while

Fig. 5

the first nozzle which is firmly connected to the rotary metering pump, by itself in a side view shows.

Fig. 6

again represents the Rotationsdosierpumpe by itself in perspective view, and

Fig. 7

a detail of it on a larger scale, while

Fig. 8

the second nozzle according to the FIG. 4 in perspective view obliquely from above, while

Fig. 9

represents a detail of this second nozzle on a larger scale.

Fig. 10

shows a vertical partial section through both nozzles in the position of use, as well as

Fig. 11

this shows, but here both nozzles are shown completely omitting the actual rotary metering pump.

Fig. 12a

serves to illustrate the seal between the first and the second nozzle in an intermediate position and

Fig. 12b

in the sealing end position.

The tubular bag 2 shown here and the arrangement of the inventive device 1 is a schematic representation. The tubular bag 2 must have in this case a lower flat top surface 21, opposite to a second cover surface or a simple folding can lie. This folding edge is designated 20. Along the longitudinal edges of the tubular bag is welded and the corresponding welding edges are designated 22. In a simpler version you would make the tubular bag 2 practically pillow-like and welded along three edges. In this case, the device 1 can be attached at any location on these surfaces of the tubular bag. However, since in that case the device 1 would only be visible from above, and thus one could recognize only a little of the device, the symbolic design shown here has been chosen. The tubular bag can in this case either consist of a pure plastic film or of a film which is multi-layered and has, for example, a paper or cardboard layer, an aluminum coating and on the outer sides in each case a plastic coating.

The device 1 consists in principle of only two parts, namely a metering pump 3 and a nozzle 4, which is referred to below as the second nozzle. The metering pump is preferably a rotary metering pump in the Fig. 1 and 2 recognizable in the side view. Here you look at a pump housing 30, which is covered by a bearing cap 31. The metering pump shown here has, for example, two vane rotors, which act in a counter-rotating manner similar to a gear pump move. Furthermore, it can be seen an outlet 32, which may be in communication with a dispensing device, not shown here, for example via a hose which would be attachable to this outlet. The tubular bag can also be attached directly hanging and the outlet 32 are located above the place where the metered delivery of the contents. The outlet 32 opposite one recognizes in the Fig. 2 a first nozzle 33, which is arranged on the suction side and thus can also be referred to as Einsaugstutzen. This first neck 33 has an external thread 36. The first neck 33 engages in the second neck 4, which has a corresponding internal thread.

The Fig. 1 now shows the device 1 before its first use, ie in a storage and transport position. In the Fig. 2 is now the same situation but shown in the usage position. The arrow R indicates that the metering pump 3 has been rotated in the direction of arrow R, in the present case by 360 °. As a result of this screwing movement, the thread 36 on the first connecting piece 33 is no longer visible, and the first connecting piece 33 can no longer be seen above the second connecting piece 4 either. For this purpose, the lower end of the first nozzle 33, which is provided with an opening means 34 at its inlet end, is now recognized. This opening means 34 has now cut open the film of the tubular bag 2 and the cut-open part Only now there is a continuous connection between the metering pump 3 and the interior of the tubular bag 2. In this way, a good can be aseptically filled, transported completely closed and opened without contamination. It makes sense to also use a metering pump that seals the connection between the intake-side first port 33 and the outlet port 32 in any position. Such a pump is preferably designed as a disposable pump. In principle, it would also be conceivable to provide the tubular bag with only the second port 4, while the metering pump 3 is made as a reusable pump, which remains with the user. However, this would also have a first, suction-side nozzle 33 with a corresponding opening means 34. For actuation, of course, this first stub 33 would also have an external thread 36, which fits on a not visible here internal thread of said second stub 4.

In the Fig. 3 the device 1 according to the invention is represented overall, but in the state not mounted on the tubular bag 2. In this perspective view, one looks from below on the second port 4. This second port 4 has a terminal flange 41. This flange 41 has on its welding side, for example, a plurality of circumferential power-conducting ribs 42. These serve to make an intimate connection between the second nozzle 4 and the tube bag 2 during ultrasonic welding. Also in the Fig. 3 the entire device 1 is shown in the transport position. It can be seen that the first neck 33 with its opening means 34 is still completely within the second neck 4 and does not protrude from this.

The second nozzle 4 is now in the Fig. 4 shown by itself in a vertical diametrical section. A connecting pipe section 43 forms the actual nozzle and to these a terminal flange 41 is formed. The flange 41, which faces the tubular bag in the mounted state, is provided with the mentioned energy-conducting ribs 42. The connecting tube section 43 has an internal thread 44. This internal thread is designed such that it fits the external thread 36 on the first connecting piece 33. In the preferred embodiment shown here, the terminal flange 41 is not directly connected to the connecting pipe section 43, but the connection is made via a conically outwardly directed connecting wall 45. The reason for this design is that the lower edge region of the connecting pipe section 43 would like to be provided with a certain flexibility, since on the inside near the edge, which lies in the plane of the flange 41, a circumferential first sealing lip or sealing bead 46th is formed. This situation is in the Fig. 10 and again on a larger scale.

Like from the Fig. 1 can be seen, the device 1 is preferably completely assembled and attached to the tubular bag 2, the customer or consumer delivered. Since, as already mentioned, the first nozzle 33 is provided with opening means 34, in particular perforating or cutting teeth 35, it must be ensured that the metering pump 3 and the thus firmly connected first nozzle 33 remain in this transport position during transport and storage can not unintentionally rotate relative to the second port 4. Because depending on the direction of rotation, either the metering would dissolve from the second port 4, and thus lost, or if he would turn in the opposite direction, the opening means 34 would come into contact with the film of the tubular bag 2 and possibly the tubular bag would thereby perforated and thus partially open, whereby the shelf life would of course no longer exist. In order to realize this fuse, a securing means 5 is preferably present. This securing means can be formed in various ways. In the Fig. 4 is purely schematic dashed lines such a securing means 5 realized as a guarantee strip, which has internally formed stop cam 52, and outside, for example, can be provided with a tear tab 53. These Stop cam 52 may be formed with corresponding radially outwardly directed locking ribs 53 which are formed on the pump housing 30 of the metering pump 3 at the junction of the first nozzle 33 to the housing 30, as for example the Fig. 3 shows.

A second embodiment of a securing means 5 consists in an elevation 54 in the inlet region 37 of the first nozzle 33. This cam-like elevation 54 fits in the assembled state to a Einrastvertiefung 55, which is formed by two opposing ramp-like elevations in the internal thread 44 of the second nozzle 4. In the mounting position before first use of the first port 33 is screwed into the second port 4 so far that the survey 54 in the latching recess 55 comes into engagement. In this position, the opening means 34, which preferably consist of perforating and / or cutting teeth 35, lie completely in the region of the connecting pipe section 43 of the second nozzle 4. It is quite possible, this second form of securing means 5 with the first version of a securing means in the form of a guarantee strip 51 to combine.

In the Fig. 6 the metering pump is shown by itself. Accordingly clearly recognizes the pump housing 30, the bearing cap 31 and integrally formed on the pump housing outlet 32 and the first port 33, which serves as an inlet nozzle and with the mentioned external thread 36 is provided. On the pump housing 30 can be seen two diametrically opposed locking ribs 53, which in the Fig. 7 are shown enlarged as a section. The transition region of the first nozzle 33 to the pump housing 30 is formed by a circumferential sealing ramp 38. For the stability of the latching rib 53, this is integrally formed on the one hand on the sealing bead and on the other hand on the pump housing 33.

So far, this latching rib 53 has been described only in cooperation with a securing means 5 in the form of a guarantee strip 51 with corresponding stop cam 52. However, the same locking ribs 53 can also be used to secure the metering pump 3 relative to the second port 4. The second port 4 has in a preferred embodiment at the, the flange 41 opposite end of the connecting pipe section 43 a collar 47 and between this collar 47 and the flange 41 a plurality of axially extending ribs 48. These ribs 48 hold the collar 47 deformation-resistant relative to the flange 41. Anti-locking means are now mounted on the collar 47, on the side facing away from the flange 41, which engage with the latching ribs 53 on the pump housing 30 as soon as the metering pump 3 is completely screwed into the second socket 4. In the simplest form could be directly in an upper ramp portion of the connecting pipe section 43 of the second nozzle 4 at least one Provide catch notch 56. In the present case, two latching notches 56 are provided in the region of the collar 47. These latching notches 56 are formed by two counter-rotating latching ramps 57 formed on the collar 47. This is particularly clear in the enlarged section in FIG Fig. 9 represented and recognizable.

The inventive device 1 for the metered delivery of a fluid from a tubular bag 2 not only guarantees aseptic delivery of the packaged goods and an absolutely hygienic opening of the tubular bag, but has thanks to double seal an at least approximately gas-tight closure of the tubular bag by the inventive device. For this purpose, there is a first seal, as already mentioned and described, between the first port 33 and the second port 4. Here has the connecting pipe section 43 on its inner side a first sealing lip or sealing bead 46 which in the free area of the connecting pipe section 43 below the conical wall 45 is formed. This is in the 10 and 11 shown. In the Fig. 11 but also the second sealing region can be seen, which forms a seal between the second nozzle 4 and the pump housing 30. This sealing area is in the Fig. 12a and 12b shown on an enlarged scale. In this figure, one can see a part of the connecting pipe section 43 in the area where it merges into the collar 47. In the connecting pipe section 43 can be seen Internal thread 44. Directly above the wall of the connecting pipe section 43 of the second nozzle 4 is an aligned, vertically upwardly projecting sealing annular wall 49. The wall of the collar 47 of the second nozzle 4 has an annular recess 40, which is a flexible exemption the sealing ring wall 49 ensures. At the upper, free end of this annular wall 49, a circumferential sealing head 49 'is integrally formed.

In the Fig. 12a If one sees a part of the pump housing 3, which protrudes with its molded first nozzle 33 in the connecting pipe section 43 of the second nozzle 4. Between the first nozzle 33 and the pump housing 30, a circumferential annular sealing ramp 38 is formed, which has a ramp-like inclination. This annular sealing ramp 38 is located in the Fig. 12a on top of the sealing head 49 'at the upper end of the sealing ring wall 49. In the Fig. 12b now the pump housing is completely screwed with the first port 33 in the second port 4. In this situation, the latching rib 43 is now in the latching notch 56, the boundary of which forms the latching ramp 57, which in the Fig. 12a and 12b can be seen cut. In this situation, the sealing ring wall is now deformed by the annular sealing ramp 38 of the pump housing 31 inwardly curved. Thus now the annular circumferential sealing head 49 'is absolutely sealingly against the sealing ramp 38.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus (1) for dispensing a fluid in a metered manner from a tubular bag (2), characterized in that the apparatus (1) contains a tubular bag (2) and a metering pump (3), of which the intake side is provided with a first connection piece (33) with an external thread (36), the end of said connection piece being provided with at least one opening means (34), and wherein the first connection piece (33) is screw-connected in a second connection piece (4) having an internal thread and a flange, the latter being welded onto the tubular bag (2), such that rotation of the metering pump (3) relative to the second connection piece (4) causes the first connection piece (33) to cut open the tubular bag (2), and wherein a securing means (5) is present, the securing means guaranteeing the position of the first connection piece (33) relative to the second connection piece (4) prior to first-time use, and wherein the securing means (5) is formed by an elevation (54) in the entry region of the external thread of the first connection piece and by a latch-in depression (55) on the internal thread (44) of the second connection piece (4), and therefore, prior to the opening means (34) being used for the first time, the cutting and/or perforating teeth (35) are located entirely within the second connection piece (4).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the metering pump (3) is a disposable pump made of plastic.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the metering pump (3) is a rotary pump.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second connection piece (4) has a conical connecting wall (45) running from the flange (41) in the direction of the internal thread (44) of the connection piece (4).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that, in the installed state prior to first-time use, the opening means (34) are located entirely in a conical region of the connecting wall (45).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one latch-in rib (53) is formed on the pump housing (30) adjacent to the first connection piece (33), on the intake side of the metering pump (3), and at least one latch-in notch (56) is formed on the upper periphery of the second connection piece (4), the at least one latch-in rib (53) latching in said latch-in notch (56) when the first connection piece (33) of the metering pump (3) has been screwed all the way into the second connection piece (4).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the second connection piece (4) has a collar (47) at the end remote from the flange (41), and the latch-in notch (56) is formed between two latch-in ramps (57), which are formed on the collar and run in opposite directions.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second connection piece (4) has formed on it, in the region in the vicinity of the flange, a first sealing lip, which is arranged on the inner side of the connection piece (43), or a sealing bead (46), said sealing lip or sealing bead sealing the first connection piece (33) in external abutment against the second connection piece (4).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second connection piece (4) has formed on it, at the flange-free end, a second sealing lip, which runs around the clear opening of the connection piece and is in the form of a sealing annular wall (49) which, with the second connection piece screwed all the way onto the first connection piece, butts against the pump housing (30).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that on the intake side, running around the first connection piece (33), the pump housing (30) has an inclined sealing ramp (38) onto which, with the first connection piece screwed all the way into the second connection piece, the sealing annular wall (49) rests onto the sealing ramp (38).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that a multiplicity of cutting and/or perforating teeth (35) are formed, as opening means (34), on the first connection piece (33).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that axially running ribs (48) are formed on the second connection piece between the flange (41) and the collar (47).
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that the ribs (48) project outwards at most as far as the outer periphery of the collar (47).

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