EP3028950A1 - Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove - Google Patents
Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3028950A1 EP3028950A1 EP14306957.3A EP14306957A EP3028950A1 EP 3028950 A1 EP3028950 A1 EP 3028950A1 EP 14306957 A EP14306957 A EP 14306957A EP 3028950 A1 EP3028950 A1 EP 3028950A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- vault
- sidewall
- annular groove
- invertible
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
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- 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
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
- B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
- B65D1/0261—Bottom construction
- B65D1/0276—Bottom construction having a continuous contact surface, e.g. Champagne-type bottom
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- 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
- B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
- B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
- B65D79/008—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars
- B65D79/0084—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars in the sidewall or shoulder part thereof
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- 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
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
- B65D2501/0018—Ribs
- B65D2501/0036—Hollow circonferential ribs
Definitions
- the invention generally relates to the manufacturing of containers, such as bottles, which are produced by blow molding or stretch-blow molding from preforms made of plastic (mostly thermoplastic, e.g. PET) material. More specifically but not exclusively, the invention relates to the processing of hot-fill containers, i.e. containers filled with a hot pourable product (typically a liquid), the term "hot” meaning that the temperature of the product is greater than the glass transition temperature of the material in which the container is made.
- hot filling of PET containers is conducted with products at a temperature comprised between about 85°C and about 100°C, typically at 90°C.
- U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2008/0047964 discloses a container comprising a pressure panel located in the bottom portion of the container. According to Denner, the pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. In order to alleviate all or a portion of the vacuum forces within the container, the pressure panel is moved from the outwardly-inclined position by a mechanical pusher after the container has been capped and cooled, in order to force the pressure panel into the inwardly-inclined position.
- Denner's container sidewall is smooth like that of a conventional glass container. Tests conducted on this container showed that inversion of the pressure panel such increases pressure in the container that the sidewall distorts to an oval shape and hence looses the rigidity required to properly stack the container in a pallet. When stacking or palletizing the containers, there is a risk for the lower containers to bend under the weight of upper containers, and hence a risk for the whole pallet to collapse.
- the container sidewall is provided with reinforcing rings. Tests conducted on that container showed that inversion of the pressure panel requires a great effort on the mechanical pusher, whereby the risk of cracking - or even perforating - the bottom portion of the container is high.
- a container having a sidewall and a bottom, said bottom having an annular seat and a central vault invertible between a lower position, in which the vault protrudes outwards with respect to the container, and an upper position, in which the vault protrudes inwards with respect to the container, wherein the sidewall is dimensionally stable, except in a resilient annular groove capable of opening under inversion of the vault.
- the vault absorbs at least part of the volume difference between the lower position and the upper position of the vault, whereby the pressure of the content is lowered to prevent inversion of the vault back to its lower position.
- FIG.1-3 show a container 1 suitable for being filled with a hot product (such as tea, fruit juice, or a sports drink).
- a hot product such as tea, fruit juice, or a sports drink.
- the container 1 is heat set, which means it is blow molded in a mold, the sidewall of which is heated at a predetermined temperature much greater than the average ambient temperature and which, in a preferred embodiment, is comprised between 80°C and 180°C.
- the container 1 includes an upper open cylindrical threaded upper portion or neck 2, which terminates, at a lower end thereof, in a support collar 3 of greater diameter. Below the collar 3, the container 1 includes a shoulder 4, which is connected to the collar 3 through a cylindrical upper end portion of short length.
- the container 1 has a sidewall 5 having an outer surface 6, which is substantially cylindrical around a container main axis X and has a transversal overall half-width R1.
- the sidewall 5 has symmetry of revolution around main axis X, i.e. the sidewall 5 has a circular shape in a sectional plane perpendicular to main axis X.
- R1 denotes the overall radius of the outer cylindrical surface 6.
- the sidewall 5 includes a series of annular stiffening recesses 7 protruding radially inwardly (i.e. towards the axis X) from the outer surface 6.
- the recesses 7 are capable of resisting radial stresses which would otherwise tend to make the sidewall 5 oval when viewed in a horizontal section (such a deformation is known as ovalization).
- the recesses 7 are also capable of resisting axial stresses, which would tend to compress or, on the contrary, to elongate the sidewall 5.
- each recess 7 has an annular belt 8 limited by sharp edges 9, whereby the belt 8 provides mechanical strength and hence resistance to elongation or compression of the sidewall 5 along the axis X, and also resistance to ovalization.
- the sidewall 5 is also provided with a resilient annular groove 10 protruding radially inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface 6.
- the annular groove 10 is capable of opening under stresses tending to elongate the sidewall 5, and on the contrary to close under stresses tending to compress the sidewall 5.
- the annular groove 10 is V-shaped. More precisely, the annular groove 10 has an upper straight flange 11 and a lower straight flange 12, which respectively connect to the outer surface 6 through fillet radiuses 13, and which connect to each other through a toroidal belt 14, which, in an axial sectional plane (as in FIG.1 ), has an arc-of-a circle shape (the radius of which is noted R2) and which is tangent to the flanges 11, 12.
- Radius R2 is preferably greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.
- the annular groove 10 has an angular aperture A1 defined between the flanges 11, 12.
- the angular aperture A1 is comprised between 40° and 70°. In the depicted example, the angular aperture A1 is of about 50°.
- the groove 10 has a depth D which, in a preferred embodiment, is such that, in the absence of stresses applied to the container 1, ratio D/R1 is comprised between 0.03 and 0.15.
- the container 1 At a lower end of the sidewall 5, the container 1 has a bottom 15, which closes the container 1 and allows it to be put on a planar surface such as a table.
- the bottom 15 includes a standing ring 16 which forms an annular seat 17 extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis X, a central portion 18 and a diaphragm 19 extending from the standing ring 16 to the central portion 18.
- the container 1 has a height H1, measured from the seat 17 to the end of the neck 2.
- the diaphragm 19 connects to the standing ring 16 at an outer junction 20 and to the central portion 18 at an inner junction 21. Both the outer junction 20 and the inner junction 21 are preferably curved (or rounded). The central portion 18 and the diaphragm 19 together form a vault 22.
- the container 1 is blow-molded with the vault 22 in a lower position protruding outwards with respect to the container 1, wherein the diaphragm 19 stands in an outwardly-inclined position and wherein the inner junction 21 is located below the outer junction 20 (the container 1 being held normally neck up).
- the lower position of the vault 22 is illustrated in FIG.1 and FIG.2 and, in dotted lines, in FIG.3 .
- the standing ring 16 is a high standing ring, i.e. the standing ring 16 is provided with a frusto-conical inner wall 23, a top end of which forms the outer junction 20 (and hence the outer articulation with the diaphragm 19), whereby in the lower position of the vault 22 (i.e. in the outwardly-inclined position of the diaphragm 19) the central portion 18 stands above the standing ring 16.
- the outer junction 20 forms an outer articulation of the diaphragm 19 with respect to the standing ring 16 and the inner junction 21 forms an inner articulation of the diaphragm 19 with respect to the central portion 18, whereby the vault 22 is invertible with respect to the standing ring 16 from the lower position to an upper position protruding inwards with respect to the container 1, wherein the diaphragm 19 stands in an inwardly-inclined position and wherein the inner junction 21 is located above the inner junction 20.
- the upper position of the vault 22 is illustrated in FIG.4 .
- the container 1 After the container 1 has been blow-molded (as depicted on FIG.1 ), it is hot-filled or ambient-filled with a liquid, paste or any other content, respectively at hot or ambient temperature. Once poured, the content reaches a filling level 24, which is symbolized on FIG.2 by a horizontal line in the vicinity of the collar 3.
- the container 1 is closed by means of a cap 25 clipped and/or screwed onto the neck 2. As the filling level 24 does not reach the upper end of the container 1, there remains, between the filling level 24 and the cap 25, a residual volume of air 26 called headspace. Filling and closing of the container 1 may be conducted on a same filling and capping machine.
- the capped container 1 After hot filling, the capped container 1 is temporarily stored to let its content cool down from the temperature at which it was poured to a temperature equal or close to the ambient atmospheric temperature. As its temperature drops, the overall volume of the container 1 (including both the poured content and the headspace 26) shrinks. The resulting vacuum is however compensated by an elastic deformation of the resilient groove 10, which closes to an angular aperture A2 smaller than the initial angular aperture A1. The rest of the sidewall 5, however, remains dimensionally stable. The container height shortens to a value H2 lower than H1 (otherwise noted, H2 ⁇ H1).
- the vault 22 is inverted from its lower position (shown in dotted lines on FIG.3 ) to its upper position (shown in solid lines on FIG.3 ) by means of a mechanical pusher (e.g. mounted on a linear actuator such as a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric jack).
- the mechanical pusher has a mandrel provided with a top apex capable of being received within the central portion 18 and which is moved upwards as the container 1 is held tight.
- Inversion of the vault 22 is provided by simultaneous articulation of the diaphragm 19 with respect to the standing ring 16 around the outer junction 20, and articulation of the central portion 18 with respect to the diaphragm 19 around the inner junction 21.
- the vault 22 In its upper, inverted position, the vault 22 is capable of supporting constraints applied by the content without inverting back to the lower position.
- the sidewall 5 is dimensionally stable except in the annular groove 10 which, as a result of its structure as depicted hereinbefore, opens during inversion of the vault 22 to an angular aperture A3, which is either larger than A2, in case of hot filling followed by a cooling (otherwise noted, A3 > A2), or larger than A1 in case of cold or ambient filling (otherwise noted, A3 > A1).
- the resilience of the groove 10 helps to reduce the stresses within the sidewall 5 and to compensate for the pressure increase which, otherwise, would tend to push the vault 22 back to its lower position.
- the filling level 24 of the content has raised only a little, since the groove 10 has absorbed most part of the volume difference due to vault inversion. Height of the container 1 raises to a value H3 greater than H2 (otherwise noted, H3 > H2).
- the annular groove 10 is located on the sidewall 5 at a height h (measured axially from the seat 17, see FIG.1 ) preferably greater than one fifth of the overall height H1 of the just molded container 1. In the depicted example, h is of about half the overall height H1.
- the groove 10 is far enough from the bottom 15 to avoid bending of the container 1 and be covered by an advertising label glued to the sidewall 5, to the benefit of container performance and aesthetics.
- the sidewall 5 is preferably provided with one resilient groove 10 only, whereby the sole groove 10 absorbs all deformations of the sidewall 5, which would otherwise tend to distort.
- FIG.5 A second embodiment of the container 1 is depicted on FIG.5 , wherein like references show like elements or part of the container 1. All the preceding description applies to the container 1 of FIG.1-4 , except that the sidewall 5 is smooth and has no recesses apart from the annular groove 10.
- Dimensional stability of the sidewall 5 outside the annular groove 10 may be provided by a greater thickness or a greater cristallinity rate, provided by a longer heat setting within the blowing mold.
- the container 1 has good shape stability under inversion of the vault 22, due to resilience of the annular groove 10.
- the groove 10 permits to lower the mechanical effort to be applied on the vault 22 during inversion.
- the container 1 remains stable in shape even under cooling of the content.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention generally relates to the manufacturing of containers, such as bottles, which are produced by blow molding or stretch-blow molding from preforms made of plastic (mostly thermoplastic, e.g. PET) material. More specifically but not exclusively, the invention relates to the processing of hot-fill containers, i.e. containers filled with a hot pourable product (typically a liquid), the term "hot" meaning that the temperature of the product is greater than the glass transition temperature of the material in which the container is made. Typically, hot filling of PET containers (the glass transition temperature of which is of about 80°C) is conducted with products at a temperature comprised between about 85°C and about 100°C, typically at 90°C.
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U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2008/0047964 (Denner et al , assigned to CO2PAC) discloses a container comprising a pressure panel located in the bottom portion of the container. According to Denner, the pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. In order to alleviate all or a portion of the vacuum forces within the container, the pressure panel is moved from the outwardly-inclined position by a mechanical pusher after the container has been capped and cooled, in order to force the pressure panel into the inwardly-inclined position. - In addition, in one embodiment Denner's container sidewall is smooth like that of a conventional glass container. Tests conducted on this container showed that inversion of the pressure panel such increases pressure in the container that the sidewall distorts to an oval shape and hence looses the rigidity required to properly stack the container in a pallet. When stacking or palletizing the containers, there is a risk for the lower containers to bend under the weight of upper containers, and hence a risk for the whole pallet to collapse.
- In another embodiment, the container sidewall is provided with reinforcing rings. Tests conducted on that container showed that inversion of the pressure panel requires a great effort on the mechanical pusher, whereby the risk of cracking - or even perforating - the bottom portion of the container is high.
- It is an object of the invention to propose a container, the bottom of which is provided with an invertible vault and having a good shape stability under inversion of the vault.
- It is another object of the invention to propose a container provided with an invertible vault and allowing for a lower mechanical effort to be applied on the vault during inversion.
- It is yet another object of the invention to propose a container, which, after inversion of the vault, still has a good shape stability even under cooling of the content.
- It is therefore provided a container having a sidewall and a bottom, said bottom having an annular seat and a central vault invertible between a lower position, in which the vault protrudes outwards with respect to the container, and an upper position, in which the vault protrudes inwards with respect to the container, wherein the sidewall is dimensionally stable, except in a resilient annular groove capable of opening under inversion of the vault.
- The vault absorbs at least part of the volume difference between the lower position and the upper position of the vault, whereby the pressure of the content is lowered to prevent inversion of the vault back to its lower position.
- Other features may be provided, either alone or in combination:
- while the sidewall has a transversal overall half-width R1, and the annular groove is V-shaped and has a depth D and an angular aperture A1, the ratio D/R1 is comprised between 0.03 and 0.15;
- angular aperture A1 is comprised, before inversion of the vault, between 40° and 70°;
- angular aperture A1 is of about 50°;
- the annular groove has an upper flange and a lower flange, which connect through a toroidal belt;
- the toroidal belt has, in an axial sectional plane, an arc-of-a circle shape, the radius of which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm;
- the sidewall is provided with a series of annular stiffening recesses;
- the bottom includes a standing ring, which forms the seat, and the vault comprises a central portion and a diaphragm extending from the standing ring;
- the container is heat set.
- The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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FIG.1 is an axial sectional view of a first embodiment of a container the bottom of which is provided with an invertible vault standing in an outwardly-inclined position, with an upper enlarged detail centered on a resilient groove and a lower enlarged detail centered on a stiffening recess. -
FIG.2 is a view similar toFIG.1 , showing the container ofFIG.1 in an outwardly-inclined position of the vault, after filling, capping and cooling of the content, with an enlarged detail centered on the resilient groove. -
FIG.3 is a view similar toFIG.1 and FIG.2 , showing the container ofFIG.2 after inversion of the vault, with an enlarged detail centered on the resilient groove. -
FIG.4 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the resilient groove of the container ofFIG.3 after a while. -
FIG.5 is a view similar toFIG.1 , showing a second embodiment of a container. -
FIG.1-3 show acontainer 1 suitable for being filled with a hot product (such as tea, fruit juice, or a sports drink). - In order to endure the mechanical stress due to the hot temperature of the product, the
container 1 is heat set, which means it is blow molded in a mold, the sidewall of which is heated at a predetermined temperature much greater than the average ambient temperature and which, in a preferred embodiment, is comprised between 80°C and 180°C. - The
container 1 includes an upper open cylindrical threaded upper portion orneck 2, which terminates, at a lower end thereof, in asupport collar 3 of greater diameter. Below thecollar 3, thecontainer 1 includes ashoulder 4, which is connected to thecollar 3 through a cylindrical upper end portion of short length. - Below the
shoulder 4, thecontainer 1 has asidewall 5 having anouter surface 6, which is substantially cylindrical around a container main axis X and has a transversal overall half-width R1. In the depicted example, thesidewall 5 has symmetry of revolution around main axis X, i.e. thesidewall 5 has a circular shape in a sectional plane perpendicular to main axis X. In this case, R1 denotes the overall radius of the outercylindrical surface 6. - In the embodiment depicted on
FIG.1-3 , thesidewall 5 includes a series of annularstiffening recesses 7 protruding radially inwardly (i.e. towards the axis X) from theouter surface 6. - The
recesses 7 are capable of resisting radial stresses which would otherwise tend to make thesidewall 5 oval when viewed in a horizontal section (such a deformation is known as ovalization). Therecesses 7 are also capable of resisting axial stresses, which would tend to compress or, on the contrary, to elongate thesidewall 5. - As depicted in the lower enlarged detail of
FIG.1 , eachrecess 7 has anannular belt 8 limited bysharp edges 9, whereby thebelt 8 provides mechanical strength and hence resistance to elongation or compression of thesidewall 5 along the axis X, and also resistance to ovalization. - As depicted on the drawings, the
sidewall 5 is also provided with a resilientannular groove 10 protruding radially inwardly from the outercylindrical surface 6. Theannular groove 10 is capable of opening under stresses tending to elongate thesidewall 5, and on the contrary to close under stresses tending to compress thesidewall 5. - In one embodiment depicted on the drawings, the
annular groove 10 is V-shaped. More precisely, theannular groove 10 has an upperstraight flange 11 and a lowerstraight flange 12, which respectively connect to theouter surface 6 throughfillet radiuses 13, and which connect to each other through atoroidal belt 14, which, in an axial sectional plane (as inFIG.1 ), has an arc-of-a circle shape (the radius of which is noted R2) and which is tangent to theflanges - In the absence of stresses applied to the
container 1, theannular groove 10 has an angular aperture A1 defined between theflanges - Measured from the outer
cylindrical surface 6 of thesidewall 5 to the radial apex of thetoroidal belt 14, thegroove 10 has a depth D which, in a preferred embodiment, is such that, in the absence of stresses applied to thecontainer 1, ratio D/R1 is comprised between 0.03 and 0.15. - At a lower end of the
sidewall 5, thecontainer 1 has abottom 15, which closes thecontainer 1 and allows it to be put on a planar surface such as a table. - The
bottom 15 includes a standingring 16 which forms anannular seat 17 extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis X, acentral portion 18 and adiaphragm 19 extending from the standingring 16 to thecentral portion 18. Thecontainer 1 has a height H1, measured from theseat 17 to the end of theneck 2. - The
diaphragm 19 connects to the standingring 16 at anouter junction 20 and to thecentral portion 18 at aninner junction 21. Both theouter junction 20 and theinner junction 21 are preferably curved (or rounded). Thecentral portion 18 and thediaphragm 19 together form avault 22. - The
container 1 is blow-molded with thevault 22 in a lower position protruding outwards with respect to thecontainer 1, wherein thediaphragm 19 stands in an outwardly-inclined position and wherein theinner junction 21 is located below the outer junction 20 (thecontainer 1 being held normally neck up). The lower position of thevault 22 is illustrated inFIG.1 and FIG.2 and, in dotted lines, inFIG.3 . - In a preferred embodiment depicted on the drawings, the standing
ring 16 is a high standing ring, i.e. the standingring 16 is provided with a frusto-conicalinner wall 23, a top end of which forms the outer junction 20 (and hence the outer articulation with the diaphragm 19), whereby in the lower position of the vault 22 (i.e. in the outwardly-inclined position of the diaphragm 19) thecentral portion 18 stands above the standingring 16. - The
outer junction 20 forms an outer articulation of thediaphragm 19 with respect to the standingring 16 and theinner junction 21 forms an inner articulation of thediaphragm 19 with respect to thecentral portion 18, whereby thevault 22 is invertible with respect to the standingring 16 from the lower position to an upper position protruding inwards with respect to thecontainer 1, wherein thediaphragm 19 stands in an inwardly-inclined position and wherein theinner junction 21 is located above theinner junction 20. The upper position of thevault 22 is illustrated inFIG.4 . - After the
container 1 has been blow-molded (as depicted onFIG.1 ), it is hot-filled or ambient-filled with a liquid, paste or any other content, respectively at hot or ambient temperature. Once poured, the content reaches a filling level 24, which is symbolized onFIG.2 by a horizontal line in the vicinity of thecollar 3. - Once filled, the
container 1 is closed by means of acap 25 clipped and/or screwed onto theneck 2. As the filling level 24 does not reach the upper end of thecontainer 1, there remains, between the filling level 24 and thecap 25, a residual volume ofair 26 called headspace. Filling and closing of thecontainer 1 may be conducted on a same filling and capping machine. - After hot filling, the capped
container 1 is temporarily stored to let its content cool down from the temperature at which it was poured to a temperature equal or close to the ambient atmospheric temperature. As its temperature drops, the overall volume of the container 1 (including both the poured content and the headspace 26) shrinks. The resulting vacuum is however compensated by an elastic deformation of theresilient groove 10, which closes to an angular aperture A2 smaller than the initial angular aperture A1. The rest of thesidewall 5, however, remains dimensionally stable. The container height shortens to a value H2 lower than H1 (otherwise noted, H2 < H1). - After the content has cooled down, if the
content 1 was previously hot filled, or after filling in the case of a filling at ambient temperature, thevault 22 is inverted from its lower position (shown in dotted lines onFIG.3 ) to its upper position (shown in solid lines onFIG.3 ) by means of a mechanical pusher (e.g. mounted on a linear actuator such as a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric jack). In one embodiment, the mechanical pusher has a mandrel provided with a top apex capable of being received within thecentral portion 18 and which is moved upwards as thecontainer 1 is held tight. - Inversion of the
vault 22 is provided by simultaneous articulation of thediaphragm 19 with respect to the standingring 16 around theouter junction 20, and articulation of thecentral portion 18 with respect to thediaphragm 19 around theinner junction 21. - In its upper, inverted position, the
vault 22 is capable of supporting constraints applied by the content without inverting back to the lower position. - During inversion, the respective pressures of the content and the
headspace 26 increase to compensate for the volume loss in thecontainer 1 due to inversion of thevault 22. - The
sidewall 5 is dimensionally stable except in theannular groove 10 which, as a result of its structure as depicted hereinbefore, opens during inversion of thevault 22 to an angular aperture A3, which is either larger than A2, in case of hot filling followed by a cooling (otherwise noted, A3 > A2), or larger than A1 in case of cold or ambient filling (otherwise noted, A3 > A1). The resilience of thegroove 10 helps to reduce the stresses within thesidewall 5 and to compensate for the pressure increase which, otherwise, would tend to push thevault 22 back to its lower position. After inversion, the filling level 24 of the content has raised only a little, since thegroove 10 has absorbed most part of the volume difference due to vault inversion. Height of thecontainer 1 raises to a value H3 greater than H2 (otherwise noted, H3 > H2). - After capping, oxidation of the content begins, due to the absorption of oxygen molecules from the
headspace 26. For that reason, headspace 26 (and hence the whole inner volume of the container 1) shrinks a little. As thesidewall 5 remains dimensionally stable except in theannular groove 10, the angular aperture thereof decreases from the value A2 to a smaller value A4 (A4 < A3). Depending on the decrease of the content volume, A4 may even be lower than A1 (A4 < A1). The filling level 24 remains, however, substantially constant. - The
annular groove 10 is located on thesidewall 5 at a height h (measured axially from theseat 17, seeFIG.1 ) preferably greater than one fifth of the overall height H1 of the just moldedcontainer 1. In the depicted example, h is of about half the overall height H1. - Hence, the
groove 10 is far enough from the bottom 15 to avoid bending of thecontainer 1 and be covered by an advertising label glued to thesidewall 5, to the benefit of container performance and aesthetics. - The
sidewall 5 is preferably provided with oneresilient groove 10 only, whereby thesole groove 10 absorbs all deformations of thesidewall 5, which would otherwise tend to distort. - A second embodiment of the
container 1 is depicted onFIG.5 , wherein like references show like elements or part of thecontainer 1. All the preceding description applies to thecontainer 1 ofFIG.1-4 , except that thesidewall 5 is smooth and has no recesses apart from theannular groove 10. - Dimensional stability of the
sidewall 5 outside theannular groove 10 may be provided by a greater thickness or a greater cristallinity rate, provided by a longer heat setting within the blowing mold. - The
container 1 has good shape stability under inversion of thevault 22, due to resilience of theannular groove 10. - The
groove 10 permits to lower the mechanical effort to be applied on thevault 22 during inversion. - In addition, due to the resilience of the
annular groove 10, thecontainer 1 remains stable in shape even under cooling of the content.
Claims (7)
- Container (1) having a sidewall (5) and a bottom (15), said bottom (15) having an annular seat (17) and a central vault (22) invertible between a lower position in which the vault (22) protrudes outwards with respect to the container (1), and an upper position in which the vault (22) protrudes inwards with respect to the container (1), wherein the sidewall (5) is dimensionally stable, except in a resilient annular groove (10) capable of opening under inversion of the vault (22).
- Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein:- the sidewall has a transversal overall half-width R1,- the annular groove is V-shaped and has a depth D and an angular aperture A1,- ratio D/R1 is comprised between 0.03 and 0.15 ;- angular aperture A1 is comprised, before inversion of the vault, between 40° and 70°.
- Container (1) according to claim 2, wherein angular aperture A1 is of about 50°.
- Container (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the annular groove (10) has an upper flange (11) and a lower flange (12), which connect through a toroidal belt (14).
- Container (1) according to claim 4, wherein the toroidal belt (14) has, in an axial sectional plane, an arc-of-a circle shape, the radius (R2) of which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.
- Container (1) according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the sidewall (5) is provided with a series of annular stiffening recesses (7).
- Container (1) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the bottom (15) includes a standing ring (16) which forms the seat (17), and wherein the vault (22) comprises a central portion (18) and a diaphragm (19) extending from the standing ring (16).
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14306957.3A EP3028950A1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2014-12-05 | Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove |
PCT/EP2015/078133 WO2016087404A1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2015-12-01 | Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14306957.3A EP3028950A1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2014-12-05 | Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3028950A1 true EP3028950A1 (en) | 2016-06-08 |
Family
ID=52146384
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14306957.3A Withdrawn EP3028950A1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2014-12-05 | Container including an invertible vault and a resilient annular groove |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3028950A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016087404A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020131672A1 (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2020-06-25 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Container apparatus |
WO2024147057A1 (en) * | 2023-01-04 | 2024-07-11 | Co2Pac Limited | Plastic container having an interactive pcr channel structure and moveable base |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3911576B1 (en) | 2019-01-15 | 2024-01-03 | Amcor Rigid Packaging USA, LLC | Vertical displacement container base |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002018213A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2002-03-07 | C02Pac Limited | Semi-rigid collapsible container |
US20080047964A1 (en) | 2000-08-31 | 2008-02-28 | C02Pac | Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods |
US20140123603A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2014-05-08 | John Denner | Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods |
US20140165504A1 (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2014-06-19 | Co2 Pac Limited | Container Structure for Removal of Vacuum Pressure |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8496130B2 (en) * | 2008-05-14 | 2013-07-30 | Amcor Limited | Hot-fill container having movable ribs for accommodating vacuum forces |
-
2014
- 2014-12-05 EP EP14306957.3A patent/EP3028950A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2015
- 2015-12-01 WO PCT/EP2015/078133 patent/WO2016087404A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002018213A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2002-03-07 | C02Pac Limited | Semi-rigid collapsible container |
US20080047964A1 (en) | 2000-08-31 | 2008-02-28 | C02Pac | Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods |
US20140123603A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2014-05-08 | John Denner | Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods |
US20140165504A1 (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2014-06-19 | Co2 Pac Limited | Container Structure for Removal of Vacuum Pressure |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020131672A1 (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2020-06-25 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Container apparatus |
US11155379B2 (en) | 2018-12-21 | 2021-10-26 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Container apparatus |
WO2024147057A1 (en) * | 2023-01-04 | 2024-07-11 | Co2Pac Limited | Plastic container having an interactive pcr channel structure and moveable base |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2016087404A1 (en) | 2016-06-09 |
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