EP3733549B1 - Container with self-supporting cover for outlet - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a container for transporting and storing liquid, viscous or free-flowing substances, in particular of the intermediate bulk container type, with a base, a side wall and at least one outlet recess in the base and/or the side wall, in which an outlet valve is or can be arranged and which can be closed by means of a cover on the container side.

State of the art

So-called intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) are used to transport and store liquid and free-flowing substances. They are used, for example, in the production of chemicals, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Such containers usually have an outlet valve near the bottom, which is mounted in an outlet recess or a valve assembly shaft in the outer wall of the container and by means of which the free-flowing or free-flowing content of the container can be removed.

It is well known in the art to provide a cover in the form of a flap on the outside of the outlet cavity (valve mounting well) in such IBCs. A protective effect, for example against dust, can be achieved to a certain extent with such a cover. However, the known flap-like covers sometimes cannot completely cover the outlet opening because they just dangle loosely in front of it, resulting in poor dustproofing. In addition, the user must to reach the outlet or the outlet valve in such known containers Often hold the cover in an open position manually, leaving only one hand to operate, mount the valve, or connect a hose to it.

Another problem that often occurs in connection with the covers described above is their damage when handling the containers with industrial trucks.

Some prior art containers have devices by means of which the cover can be latched to the container in the open state. However, such solutions are impractical when the cover becomes damaged, as often both the locking device on the container and the cover have to be replaced.

For example disclosed EP 2 894 111 A1 a container with an outlet that can be closed with a cover. The cover is hinged into a mating section and a flap section, the mating section being connected to the case with dowel pins. Locking apertures are provided on the cover which are engageable with ribs on the container to hold the flap portion of the cover in an open position.

There are other prior art solutions where the cover is completely removed from the container to reach the outlet valve. With such containers, after installing the valve or performing an emptying process, the user must also manually replace the cover on the outlet recess, which increases the number of work steps required. In addition, the cover of such containers must be stowed away in the dismantled state so that it does not get lost.

There is therefore a need for a container for the transport and storage of liquid, viscous or free-flowing substances, in particular of the intermediate bulk container type, which has a cover for an outlet opening of the container provides improved manageability, which is also advantageously easily replaceable in the event of a defect.

The objects described above are achieved by a container according to independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

Basically, a container according to the invention for transporting and storing liquid, viscous or free-flowing substances has a base, a side wall and at least one outlet recess in the base and/or the side wall, in which an outlet valve is arranged or can be arranged. The outlet recess can be closed by means of a cover on the outside of the container. The outlet recess has a base portion and a closure portion. The base portion is configured to be attached or attachable to the container. The closure section is designed to be able to close the outlet recess.

The closure section is articulated on the base section via a hinge arrangement so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation, so that the closure section can be transferred from a first position closing the outlet recess to a second position releasing the outlet recess. The hinge arrangement is designed to hold or lock the closure section in a self-supporting manner in the second position releasing the outlet recess. The base section has a guide rib and the container has a corresponding guide slot in the area of the outlet recess. In other words, a pivotable cover/flap for an outlet opening of a container is designed in such a way that its hinge arrangement locks/secures the closure section or the flap of the cover in the open position. When the cover is opened upwards (against the force of gravity), the holding force of the locking device is also designed to be at least strong enough to be able to hold the closure section self-supporting against the force of gravity.

The container according to the invention has the advantage that the cover can be reliably held in an open position when the outlet recess or the outlet valve has to be reached. As a result, the user has both hands for Assembly or operating activities on the valve are free and accidental closing of the cover during an assembly process is also avoided. The locking in the open position is accomplished according to the invention by the hinge arrangement of the cover per se. This has the advantage that the entire locking mechanism is part of the cover and can be easily replaced together with the cover in the event of a defect.

The container can preferably be a large load carrier of the Intermediate Bulk Container type, which has an internal tank with a

Has outlet valve, which is housed in an outer support structure of bottom and side wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hinge arrangement can have a pretensioning or spring element which is designed to hold the closure body in the second, open position. Such an embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the cover can be automatically transferred into a defined, open position when the pretension is applied, i.e. even if a user does not fully open the cover manually, the cover snaps into a fully open position by itself.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the hinge arrangement can be designed as a bistable hinge which, depending on its relative position with respect to a pressure point, is pretensioned either in the first position closing the outlet recess or in the second position releasing the outlet recess. In other words, the hinge of the cover can be designed as a so-called snap hinge that is snapped into either a defined closed position or a defined open position, depending on the position of the closure section relative to a pressure point. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the cover is always either in a completely closed position or in a defined open position, which avoids operating errors, such as incomplete closing of the cover.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the cover can be manufactured in one piece as a plastic component, in particular from a thermoplastic material. This makes it possible to design the cover as a replacement part that is easy to manufacture and inexpensive to manufacture. According to a further preferred embodiment, the bistable hinge can be designed as a film hinge arrangement. The implementation of the hinge as a film hinge supports the design of the cover as a simple replacement part to be manufactured in one piece. The cover can preferably be manufactured in one piece as an injection molded part.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the bistable hinge can be designed as a curved film hinge. By introducing a curve or arch in the film hinge, tension can be brought into the hinge in a simple manner and a snap effect can be generated. In such a case, the film hinge forms the prestressing or spring element per se, which prestresses/holds the closure body in the second, open position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bistable hinge can have a resilient bending element or tension element that produces a snap action as a pretensioning or spring element.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the hinge assembly may include complementary detent or friction elements at the adjacent ends of the base portion and the closure portion adapted to self-support the closure portion in the second position. As an alternative to an embodiment with prestressing elements, the hinge arrangement can therefore also be designed to be self-supporting by means of teeth that engage in different pivot positions or a frictional connection.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the second position releasing the outlet opening, the closure section can be rotated by an angle of 135° to 190°, preferably between 150° and 170°, relative to the first position about the pivot axis (A). The closure section can preferably be oriented essentially vertically in the first position that closes the outlet recess. In commercially available containers, the closure section is mostly aligned vertically or parallel to the side surface of the container in the first position that closes the outlet opening. It is advantageous if the cover is rotated by a little less than 180° from this position, which closes the outlet recess, into the defined open position, so that on the one hand the outlet recess is reliably released, and on the other hand it is still easy to reach behind the opened cover ( not touching the side wall).

According to a preferred embodiment, the base section can be attached to the container in a detachable and attachable manner without tools. This allows a damaged cover to be replaced quickly. Since the entire device for locking the cover in the open position is part of the cover itself, this too can be easily renewed by replacing the cover.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the base section can have a latching recess, arranged in particular on a side of the base section facing away from the hinge arrangement, which is designed and provided to engage with a corresponding latching projection on the container near the outlet recess. A reverse arrangement of locking projection and locking recess is also possible. In other words, a snap connection can be provided for simple, tool-free clipping of the cover to the container.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base section can have a guide rib and the container can have a corresponding guide slot in the area of the outlet recess. In this way, the assembly of the cover on the container can be further simplified.

According to a preferred embodiment, both the base section and the closure section can have an essentially plate-shaped structure and can be connected to one another at adjacent side edges by the hinge arrangement. Such a shape enables a simple tool design for the manufacture of the cover.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the closure body can be inserted flush into the outer surface of the base and/or the side wall in the first position that closes the outlet recess. Such a design of the container and the cover avoids damage to the latter since no edge of the cover protrudes from the container side surface when closed to catch. For this purpose, preferably a portion of the outer surface of the container adjacent to Outlet recess be indented, so that the particular plate-shaped cover can be used / inserted into the indentation.

Brief description of the figures

• Fig. 1 ist eine Darstellung eines Intermediate Bulk Containers gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 2 ist eine Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung einer Auslassausnehmung eines Behälters gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform sowie zur Veranschaulichung eines Einsetzvorgangs für ein Auslassventil;
• Fig. 3 ist eine Darstellung einer Abdeckung für eine Auslassausnehmung gemäß einem ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel in einem verschlossenen Zustand;
• Fig. 4 ist eine Darstellung der Abdeckung für eine Auslassausnehmung in einem geöffneten Zustand;
• Fign. 5A bis 5C zeigen einen Öffnungsvorgang der Abdeckung für eine Auslassausnehmung gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 6 zeigt die Abdeckung gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel in einer freigeschnittenen Darstellung;
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine Abdeckung gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel in einer freigeschnittenen Darstellung;
• Fig. 8 zeigt einen Rastmechanismus für eine selbsttragende Abdeckung gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• Fign. 9A und 9B zeigen eine Detailansicht des Rastmechanismus zum Befestigen der Abdeckung am Behälter.

The present invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the figures for better illustration.

• 1 Figure 12 is an illustration of an intermediate bulk container in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
• 2 Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a discharge hole of a container according to a preferred embodiment and showing an insertion process for a discharge valve;
• 3 Fig. 12 is an illustration of a cover for an outlet hole according to a first preferred embodiment in a closed state;
• 4 Fig. 12 is an illustration of the exhaust port cover in an opened state;
• Figs. 5A to 5C 13 show an opening process of the cover for a discharge hole according to the first embodiment;
• 6 shows the cover according to the first embodiment in a cutaway view;
• 7 shows a cover according to a second embodiment in a cutaway view;
• 8 shows a locking mechanism for a self-supporting cover according to a third embodiment; and
• Figs. 9A and 9B show a detailed view of the locking mechanism for attaching the cover to the container.

1 shows a perspective view of a container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The container 1 shown is a so-called intermediate bulk container. Containers of this type have a bottom 2, which usually has a pallet-like underbody structure, and a side wall 4 extending upwards from the bottom. The container 1 shown also has a lid, which is not specified here. The elements described above form an outer structure of the container 1, which shields an inner tank or bag (not shown) from external influences and also allows containers 1 of the same construction to be stacked. Such Intermediate Bulk Containers enable safe transport of liquid, viscous or free-flowing goods. In order to be able to remove said goods from the container 1, the inner tank or bag is equipped with an outlet valve 8 on its underside or in a lower area 1 is not shown in detail. In order to make this outlet valve 8 accessible from outside the container 1, the container 1 has an outlet recess 6 in its outer structure, i.e. in its base 2 and/or its side wall 4 Valve 8 represents. To protect against dust and other external influences, said outlet recess 6 is protected by a cover 10 on the outside of the container.

2 shows a perspective detailed view of the outlet recess 6, which is arranged in the illustrated preferred exemplary embodiment in the container base 2 or in a base edge 3 formed by this. In 2 an exemplary valve arrangement 8 is also shown, which can be inserted into the outlet recess 6 from the inside of the container.

Like in the 3 is shown, the outlet recess 6 can be closed with a cover 10 on the outside of the container. The one shown here Cover 10 is flap-like. In its basic structure, the cover 10 has a base section 12, which is arranged in the direction towards the top of the container in the example shown, with which the cover is fixed to the container 1 or the bottom 2, and a closure section 16, which represents the structure closing the outlet recess 6. The closure portion 16 is pivotally connected to the base portion 12 via a hinge assembly 14 .

As also in the 3 is clearly visible, the cover 10 fits into the outer surface of the bottom edge 3 in a substantially planar manner. For this purpose, an area of the outer surface of the bottom edge 3 that is directly adjacent to the outlet recess 6 is indented relative to the remaining lateral outer surface, so that the cover 10 can be inserted into this indentation. In order nevertheless to ensure good accessibility to the cover 10 and to be able to open it, a grip recess 5 is provided on the lower edge of the base 2 adjacent to the indentation into which the cover 10 is inserted.

4 shows the cover 10 of FIG 3 in an open state. To open, the closure section 16 is pivoted about a pivot axis A defined by the hinge arrangement 14 . According to the invention, the illustrated cover 10 or its hinge arrangement 14 is designed to be self-supporting, ie it locks itself automatically in a defined open position, as will be explained in more detail below. As in 4 is clearly visible, the defined open position, in which the closure section 16 is locked, is selected such that the opening is completely released, but the flap is not completely pivoted through 180°, but rather an opening angle between 10° and 30° relative to the side surface of the container 1 remains. This has the advantage that it is easier to reach behind the closure section 16 for closure, since it does not rest on the side surface of the container 1 .

the Figures 5A to 5C show a side view of the cover 10 with a self-supporting closure body 16 according to a first embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, the hinge arrangement 14 is designed as a so-called bistable hinge or snap hinge. The hinge assembly 14 has a film hinge 15 which defines the basic pivot axis A of the closure section 16 . In addition, the hinge arrangement 14 in this example has two prestressing or spring elements 18, which act here as tension spring elements, in order to bring about a snapping action of the hinge 14.

Like in the Figure 5A As can be seen, the spring element 18 is in a relaxed state when the cover 10 is in the closed state, in which the base section 12 and the closure section 16 are arranged essentially in alignment. In the Figure 5A The illustrated position of the closure section 16 forms a first rest position of the bistable hinge arrangement 14. In the relaxed state of the spring element 18, two end points 19 thereof have a distance r from one another. A first end point 19 of the spring element 18 is pivotably connected to the base section 12 via a film hinge and a second end point 19 of the spring element 18 is likewise pivotably connected to the closure section 16 via a film hinge. Since the spring element 18 is pivotally connected both to the base section 12 and to the closure section 16, it can track the pivoting movement of the closure section 16. However, since the end points 19 (film hinges) of the spring element are offset relative to the film hinge 15 between the base section 12 and the closure section 16 , the spring elements 18 do not rotate concentrically with the closure section 16 . The result of this is that when the closure section 16 is removed from the in Figure 5A shown position is pivoted out, the spring element 18 must lengthen.

In Figure 5B it is easy to see how the distance between the two end points 19 of the spring element 18 in a pivoted position clearly exceeds the distance r from the relaxed state of the spring element 18 . In other words, the spring element 18 is stretched as soon as it leaves the hinge arrangement 14 from the rest position. With small deflections from the in Figure 5A In the closed state shown, the closure section therefore snaps back into its starting position under the preload of the spring elements in FIG. the inside Figure 5B The state shown represents a pressure point in which, when the closure section 16 pivots about the film hinge 15, the spring element 18 is at its maximum is stretched. If the closure section 16 pivots further in the anti-clockwise direction (in the selected illustration), the distance between the two end points 19 of the spring element 18 is reduced again. The prestressing force of the spring element 18 therefore acts from the moment the pressure point is exceeded in the direction of a second relaxed state of the spring element 18 or a second rest position of the hinge arrangement 14.

Figure 5C shows this second rest position of the bistable hinge arrangement 14, which represents a defined open state of the cover 10. As also in the Figure 5C is clearly visible, the distance between the two end points 19 of the spring element 18 in this second rest position corresponds to the distance r again, as in the first rest position. In summary, the hinge arrangement 14 according to the first exemplary embodiment causes the closure section 16 to automatically snap upwards after a predetermined deflection or when a predetermined pressure point is exceeded and is held or locked in this open position by the spring force of the pretensioning element 18 in a self-supporting manner. In addition, the bistable hinge is prestressed in the closed position and can thus provide better tightness when closing.

6 shows the cover 10 with a bistable hinge arrangement 14 according to a first exemplary embodiment in a cutaway representation. figure 7 shows a second, alternative embodiment for a cover 10 with a bistable hinge 15. In the embodiment of FIG figure 7 the bistability or snapping effect of the film hinge 15 is produced in that a bend is introduced into the film hinge. Since the course of the film hinge 15 no longer coincides with the pivot axis A defined by this due to the introduction of the bend, the film hinge 15 in this embodiment acts per se as a resilient bending element that produces a snapping effect.

figure 8 shows a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which the self-supporting cover is not realized by means of a bistable hinge but by means of complementary latching elements 28, 30 between base section 12 and closure section 16. As in figure 8 can be seen, the In the example shown, base section 12 has a type of toothing running coaxially to pivot axis A in the circumferential direction of hinge arrangement 14 and into which locking projections 30 carried on resilient arms 29 engage. The geometry of the teeth 28 and the projections 30 is set together with the spring force of the arms 29 in such a way that manual pivoting of the hinge arrangement is easily possible, but the holding force generated by the complementary latching elements 28, 30 is sufficient to hold the closure section 16 self-supporting .

The cover 10 according to the preferred embodiment is equipped with a locking mechanism that can be detached and attached without tools. In particular, the illustrated preferred embodiment of the cover 10 can be attached to the container 1 in an uncomplicated manner by means of a snap mechanism. This is advantageous since the cover is a wearing part of the container 1. Corresponding covers 10 are often damaged when handling containers 1 by means of floor conveyors such as forklifts.

In the illustrated embodiment, as best shown in FIGS Figures 9A and 9B As can be seen, a latching lug or latching projection 20 is arranged above the outlet recess 6 on the outer surface of the indentation. This is adapted and intended to be brought into engagement with a corresponding latching recess 22 on the base section 12 of the cover 10 . The locking recess 22 is located in an upper area of the base section 12 facing towards the interior of the container. Between the upper edge of the base section 12 and an upper edge of the locking recess 22 there is a guide bevel 23 which allows sliding over the locking lug 20, which is also chamfered, in order to achieve a snap effect to create. A guide rib 24 which dips into a complementary groove or slot 26 at the top edge of the indentation above the outlet recess 6 in the container 1 provides guided assembly movement and secure snapping of the cover 10 when assembled to the container 1.

Reference sign

1

Container;

2

Floor;

3

bottom edge;

4

side wall;

5

handle recess;

6

outlet recess / valve mounting shaft;

8th

Outlet valve;

10

Cover;

12

base section;

14

hinge assembly;

15

film hinge

16

closure section;

18

preload element / spring element;

20

latching projection / latching nose;

21

return;

22

recess;

23

guide bevel;

24

guide rib;

26

guide slot;

28

gearing;

29

spring arm;

30

locking protrusion and

A

axis of rotation.

Claims (14)

1. A container (1) for transporting and storing liquid, viscous or free-flowing substances, in particular of the intermediate bulk container type, having a bottom (2), a sidewall (4) and at least one outlet recess (6) in the bottom (2) and/or in the sidewall (4), in which an outlet valve (8) is arranged or arrangeable and which is closable on the outside of the container via a cover (10), wherein

   the cover (10) has a base portion (12) via which the cover (10) is fixed or fixable to the container (1), and a closure portion (16) which is hinged to the base portion (12) via a hinge assembly (14) so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation (A), such that

   said closure portion (16) is transferable from a first position closing the outlet recess (6) into a second position releasing the outlet recess (6), characterized in that

   the hinge assembly (14) is configured to hold or lock the closure portion (16) in the second position releasing the outlet recess (6) in a self-supporting manner, and

   the base portion (12) has a guiding rib (24) and the container (1) has a corresponding guiding slit (26) in the region of the outlet recess (6).
2. The container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge assembly (14) comprises a pretensioning or spring element (18) formed to hold the closure body (16) in the second, open position.
3. The container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the hinge assembly (14) is formed as a bistable hinge which, depending on its relative position with respect to a pressure point, is pretensioned either into the first position closing the outlet recess (6) or into the second position releasing the outlet recess (6).
4. The container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the bistable hinge (14) is a film hinge assembly.
5. The container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the bistable hinge (14) is configured as a curved film hinge.
6. The container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the bistable hinge (14) comprises a resilient bending element or tension element producing a snap action as pretensioning or spring element (18).
7. The container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge assembly (14) comprises complementary latching elements (28, 30) at the adjacent ends of the base portion (12) and of the closure portion (16) which are configured to hold the closure portion (16) in the second position in a self-supporting manner.
8. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the closure portion (16) in the second position, releasing the outlet recess (6), is rotated about the pivot axis (A) by an angle of 135° to 190°, preferably between 150° and 170°, with respect to the first position.
9. The container (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the closure portion is substantially vertically oriented in the first position closing the outlet recess (6).
10. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base portion (12) is detachably and attachably mounted to the container (1) without tools.
11. The container according to claim 10, characterized in that the base portion (12) is attachable to the container (1) via a snap-on connection (20, 22) in the area of the outlet recess (6).
12. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cover (10) is manufactured in one piece as a plastic component.
13. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that both the base portion (12) and the closure portion (16) have a substantially plate-like structure and are connected to each other at adjacent side edges by the hinge assembly (14).
14. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the closure body in the first position closing the outlet recess (6) fits flush into the outer surface of the bottom (2) and/or (4) of the sidewall (4).

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