Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
  • A47F1/02—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise for granulated or powdered materials, i.e. bulk materials
  • A47F1/03—Dispensing means, e.g. with buttons or handles
• • 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
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/06—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing powdered or granular material
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/02—Show cases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements
• • 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
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents

Definitions

• the present application relates to a device for storing and dispensing at least one bulk product.
• the products which are initially packaged in bags and / or in boxes are poured into silos which each have, in the lower part, a neck equipped with a shutter operable by a handle.
• the consumer places a bag at the end of the neck and actuates the handle to control the amount of product poured into the bag.
• This device comprises a rigid plastic silo in the form of a tube which has, in the lower part, an inclined pan which directs the bulk product to a neck. The upper opening of the silo is closed by a lid.
• the device comprises, at the neck, a flap movable in rotation, about a pivot axis, between a closed position, in which it completely closes the neck and prevents the flow of stored bulk product, and a position more or less open in which the shutter no longer fully constrains the neck and allows a more or less significant flow of stored bulk product.
• the flap is connected to a handle allowing a user to rotate the flap about its pivot axis.
• a place of sale generally comprises several storage and distribution devices, the initial investment for the purchase of all the devices is relatively important.
• US-977.095 discloses a spout which attaches to the lid of a container.
• a trapezoidal shaped plate is fixed on the cover so that the edges of the plate are spaced from the cover.
• the plate and the cover comprise aligned openings.
• the spout is integral with a plate which has approximately the same shape as the plate. This plate has curved edges that cooperate with the edges of the plate. Thus, the curved edges of the plate and the edges of the plate form a slide connection.
• the plate comprises flaps which, once folded on the plate supporting the spout, immobilize it.
• the present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
• the subject of the invention is a storage and distribution device which comprises:
• a dispensing system which has an orifice and a shutter movable between an open state, in which it at least partially clears the orifice and allows the flow of the bulk product, and a closed state in which it closes the orifice and prevents the flow of the product in bulk,
• a slide connection providing a removable connection between the container and the dispensing system positioned at the opening of the container.
• the container and the dispensing system are dissociated.
• the same distribution system can be mounted successively on several containers.
• the containers no longer need to be filled or cleaned at the point of sale.
• a container When a container is empty, it is replaced by a new container. It can be collected for recycling or re-use and refilled with a bulk product.
• the slide connection is obtained by cooperating forms of the dispensing system and the opening of the container.
• the slide connection comprises firstly first and second wings, integral with the distribution system, and secondly, C-shaped at the opening providing the function of guides for guiding the wings .
• the dispensing system comprises a frame which delimits a passage for the bulk product and which has two opposite sides in the form of thin strips of coplanar material which constitute the first and second wings.
• the opening comprises:
• a first rectangular portion which has a width less than the width separating the outer edges of the wings and slightly greater than the width of a body of the dispensing system at which the orifice is formed and on which the shutter is mounted, and
• the opening has a T-shape, the second enlarged rectangular portion being positioned above the first portion when the container is positioned ready to distribute the bulk product.
• the opening is separated from an end face of the container by a distance such that the opening coincides with the passage of the frame when said frame is in contact with the end face of the container.
• the opening is delimited by a precut line made on one of the walls of the container, this precut line being configured to be cut so as to obtain the opening when the container is converted into a part of the container.
• the dispensing system comprises a body, connected to a frame, which comprises:
• a half-cylindrical wall whose first end is connected to a first side of the frame and whose second end is extended by a flat wall connected to a second side of the frame opposite to the first side, the orifice being provided at the level of half lower half-cylindrical wall,
• a tongue one end of which is connected to the body, between the orifice and the first side of the frame, said tongue extending downwards and being slightly inclined relative to the vertical to guide the flow of the bulk product flowing to from the orifice when the dispensing system is mounted on a container ready to dispense the bulk product.
• FIG. 1 is a view of a container used to package a bulk product and configured to form part of a dispensing and storage device according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a side view of a distribution system, in the closed state, which illustrates an embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a side view of the distribution system visible in FIG. 2, in the open state
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the distribution system visible in FIG. 2, in the open state,
• FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of a storage and dispensing device which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, respectively in the closed state and in the open state, and
• Figs. 6A-6C are perspective views illustrating the placement of a dispensing system on a container to provide a storage and dispensing device according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B there is shown at 10 a device for storing and dispensing at least one bulk product, positioned on a display unit 12.
• the display unit 12 comprises an inclined plate 14 configured to receive several storage and dispensing devices 10 contiguous to each other.
• This inclined plate 14 comprises at its lower edge a flange 16 against which rests each storage and dispensing device 10 positioned on the inclined plate 14.
• the storage and distribution device could be suspended or maintained by any other means.
• the storage and dispensing device 10 comprises a container 18 of at least one bulk product, a dispensing system 20 having an orifice 22 (visible in FIG. 4), a shutter 24 movable between an open state, in which it releases at least partially the orifice 22 and allows the flow of the bulk product 26 (as shown in FIG. 5B) and a closed state, in which it closes the orifice 22 and prevents the flow of the bulk product ( as illustrated in FIG. 5A) as well as a slide connection 28 providing a removable connection between the container 18 and the distribution system 20.
• the container 18 is a rigid or semi-rigid box, for example cardboard. According to one characteristic of the invention, the container 18 is the packaging used to package the bulk product 26 from a production and / or packaging site to a place of marketing.
• the bulk product stored in its packaging is not poured into a storage and distribution device separate from the packaging.
• the packaging of the bulk product 26 forms part of the storage and dispensing device.
• the container 18 comprises an inner face in contact with the bulk product 26 and a visible outer face.
• the inner face of the container 18 may comprise a surface treatment, a coating or a coating to enhance its sealing, make it hydrophobic and / or greaseproof.
• the material used for the container may be of cardboard or the like material having greaseproof, hydrophobic and / or waterproof properties.
• the outer face of the container 18 comprises at least one marking 30 for identifying the product, for the traceability of the product and / or to indicate any information necessary for sale.
• the invention can eliminate all labeling operations at the point of sale.
• the container 18 comprises at least one opening 32 configured to communicate the interior of the container 18 with the outside and allow the flow of the bulk product 26 outside the container 18 via the dispensing system 20.
• the opening 32 is positioned to allow a complete or almost complete emptying of the container 18 when the latter is equipped with the dispensing system 20 and positioned correctly to dispense the bulk product.
• the container 18 comprises a front face 34.1, a rear face 34.2, two side faces 34.3, 34.4, a first end face 34.5 and a second end face 34.6.
• the front, rear and side faces 34.1 to 34.4 are connected in pairs and perpendicular to each other so as to form a square or rectangular section.
• the first end face 34.5 is oriented upwards when the container 18 is not used as part of a storage and distribution device 10 and pointing downwards, positioned against a display 12 for example, when the container 18 is used as part of a storage and dispensing device 10.
• the second end face 34.6 is facing downward when the container 18 is not used as part of a storage and dispensing device 10 and facing upwards when the container 18 is used. as part of a storage and dispensing device 10.
• the second end face 34.6 may be perpendicular to the front, rear and side faces 34.1 to 34.4.
• the first end face 34.5 comprises at least one inclined face to orient the bulk product 26 towards the front face 34.1, the opening 32 being positioned on the front face 34.1 near the edge 35 which connects the front face 34.1 and the first end face 34.5.
• the invention is not limited to this geometry for the container 18.
• the first end face 34.5 may comprise several inclined faces.
• the front face 34.1 may not be flat but have at least one inclined face.
• the marking 30 is affixed to the front face 34.1.
• the opening 32 is closed. It is only open when the container 18 is used as part of a storage and dispensing device 10. This solution makes it possible to protect the bulk product 26
• the opening 32 is closed by a cover.
• the opening 32 is delimited by a pre-cut line 36 (visible in FIG. 1) made on one of the walls of the container 18 (in particular on its front face 34.1).
• This pre-cut line 36 is configured to be cut so as to obtain the opening 32 when the container 18 is transformed from packaging into a part of a storage and dispensing device 10.
• the invention is not limited to these two embodiments to create the opening 32 when the container 18, initially used as packaging, is transformed into a part of a storage and distribution device 10.
• the dispensing system 20 comprises: a frame 38 defining a passage which cooperates with the opening 32 of the container 18 in operation,
• a body 40 delimiting a cavity 42 which communicates with the passage and the orifice 22, and
• the body 40 comprises:
• a half-cylindrical wall 40.1 whose first end is connected to a first side 38.1 of the frame 38 and whose second end is extended by a flat wall 40.2 connected to a second side 38.2 of the frame 38, opposite to the first side 38.1, a first lateral wall 40.3 connecting the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 and the flat wall 40.2 to a third side 38.3 of the frame 38, and
• the first and second side walls 40.3 and 40.4 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1.
• the half-cylindrical, flat, lateral walls 40.1 to 40.4 of the body delimit the cavity 42.
• the frame 38 and the body 40 form a single piece, for example plastic, obtained by injection, molding or any other method.
• the shutter 24 comprises:
• a quarter cylinder wall 24.1 configured to cover the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 of the body 40 and slide on the outer face thereof, a first side wall 24.2 configured to be pressed against the first side wall 40.3 of the body 40, to outside of it, and
• a second side wall 24.3 configured to be pressed against the second side wall 40.4 of the body 40, outside the latter.
• the first and second side walls 24.2 and 24.3 each have a quarter-disc shape.
• the shutter 24 is movable about a pivot axis A24 coincides with the axis of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 of the body 40.
• the invention is not limited to this embodiment to form a pivot axis between the shutter 24 and the body 40.
• the orifice 22 is formed in the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 at its lower half, near the first side 38.1 of the frame 38, at the lowest portion of the body 40 when the storage device and dispensing 10 is positioned ready to dispense the bulk product.
• the shutter 24 is rotatable about the pivot axis A24 between the closed state, visible in FIG. 2, in which the quarter-cylinder wall 24.1 covers the lower half of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 of the body. 40 and closes the orifice 22 and the open state, visible in FIG. 3, in which the quarter-cylinder wall 24.1 does not completely cover the lower half of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1 of the body 40 and at least partially clears the orifice 22.
• the orifice 22 has a drop-shaped shape, the tip 22.1 being oriented towards the first side
• the orifice 22 is centered between the two side walls 40.3, 40.4 of the body 40 and extends over the entire lower half of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1.
• the body 40 comprises a stop 46, positioned near the first side 38.1 of the frame 38, projecting from the outer surface of the half-cylindrical wall 40.1, the shutter 24 being in contact with said stop 46 in the state closed.
• the dispensing system 20 comprises a tongue 48, one end 48.1 of which is connected to the body 40, between the orifice 22 and the first side 38.1 of the frame 38.
• this tongue 48 extends downward, slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, to guide the flow of the bulk product 26 flowing from the orifice 22.
• This tongue 48 simplifies the positioning of a bag 50 in which the bulk product 26 is poured. In operation, the bag 50 is threaded around the tongue 48, a part of the bag 50 being in contact against the tongue 48, the bag 50 being open at the front of the tongue 48.
• the shutter 24 includes a handle 52 for handling it.
• the handle 52 is in the form of a plate positioned in a plane passing through the pivot axis A24, at the upper edge of the quarter-cylinder wall. 24.1 of the shutter 24.
• the shutter 24 is designed so that it automatically positions itself in the closed state without the action of a person.
• the sliding connection 28 comprises two wings 54.1, 54.2 integral with the distribution system 20, disposed on either side of the body 40, as well as two guides 56.1, 56.2 integral with the container 18, arranged in both sides of the opening 32 and configured to guide the wings 54.1, 54.2, in an insertion direction 58 parallel to the front face 34.1 of the container 18.
• the third and fourth sides 38.3, 38.4 of the frame 38 are in the form of thin strips of coplanar material, parallel to the pivot axis A24.
• the frame 38 may be plane, the four sides 38.1 to 38.4 being in the form of thin strips of coplanar material.
• the opening 32 comprises a first rectangular portion 32.1 which has a width L32.1 smaller than the width L separating the outer edges of the wings 54.1, 54.2 and slightly greater than the L40 width of the body 40 and at least a second portion 32.2 rectangular and widened which has a width L32.2 greater than the width L of the wings 54.1, 54.2.
• the opening 32 has a T shape and comprises a first rectangular portion 32.1 and a second enlarged rectangular portion 32.2 positioned above the first portion 32.1 when the container 18 is positioned ready to distribute the product in bulk.
• the opening 32 is separated from an end face of the container 18, more particularly from the first end face 34.5, by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first side 38.1 of the frame 38 so that the opening 32 coincides with the passage of the frame 38 when the dispensing system 20 is mounted on the container 18, as shown in Figure 6C, and the frame 38 is in contact with the end face 34.5.
• the opening has an I-shaped shape and comprises a first rectangular portion 32.1 and two enlarged rectangular portions 32.2, disposed on either side of the first rectangular portion 32.1.
• the dispensing system 20 and the opening 32 of the container 18 have shapes that cooperate to form a slide connection 28 providing a removable connection between the container 18 and the dispensing system 20.
• the dispensing system 20 comprises a first wing 54.1 configured to slide in at least a first cutout formed at a first edge of the opening 32 and a second wing 54.2 configured to slide in at least one second cutout formed at a second edge of the opening 32.
• the invention provides a removable connection between the dispensing system 20 and the container 18 without added element on the container 18.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=61132674

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (11)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2017
  • 2017-12-05 FR FR1761617A patent/FR3074409B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2018
  • 2018-12-03 WO PCT/EP2018/083387 patent/WO2019110532A1/fr unknown
  • 2018-12-03 CA CA3082183A patent/CA3082183A1/fr active Pending
  • 2018-12-03 US US16/770,451 patent/US11427395B2/en active Active
  • 2018-12-03 EP EP18808046.9A patent/EP3720317A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (1)

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