EP4289315A1 - Dispenser and bulk storage system with a device for opening a packaging bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for storing and dispensing a bulk product comprising a hopper (17) configured to be placed under a bag (10) for packaging said bulk product and intended to receive the bulk product for storage , said hopper (17) comprising means for distributing said bulk product, and a device for opening the packaging bag for the gravity discharge of the bulk product into the hopper (17), said system being characterized in that the device opening is in the form of a clamp (19) whose actuation allows the opposite edges of said bag (10) to be separated for the gravity discharge of the contents of said bag (10) into the hopper (17).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of packaging and distribution of bulk products.

One of the objects of the present invention relates to a device for opening packaging bags for the distribution of a bulk product which guarantees food safety and eliminates the risk of contamination by preventing any contact between the materials distributed and the person who opens the bag.

The present invention also reduces the maintenance and cleaning operations of the solution, while being compatible with the packaging methods usually used in the food industry, vertical bagging machines.

By bulk product within the meaning of this document, we mean throughout the following description any product having a method of distribution not requiring predetermined packaging. In other words, it is a product that is sold in unpackaged form. Among the bulk products within the meaning of the present invention, we find for example dry products such as food products of the seed, dough, cereal, flour, sugar or other type. We also find other types of non-food products such as pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, hygiene products or even cleaning products.

The present invention will thus find numerous advantageous applications in the field of distribution, in particular in the sale and/or distribution of bulk products, particularly food.

It will be understood that other advantageous applications in other fields such as for example the sale and/or distribution of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, hygiene or even maintenance products could be envisaged in the context of the present invention.

Prior art

The sale of bulk products is experiencing real development.

Consumers are in fact increasingly concerned about respecting the environment by limiting the use of plastic bags.

Selling products in bulk also allows consumers to control the quantity of products purchased.

According to a first variant, it is known to offer bulk products in bins in the form of containers open in the upper portion (or bins).

According to this variant, the consumer helps himself manually from the bin, for example using a shovel or another tool.

This first variant has several disadvantages.

• un nombre élevé de manipulations liées au dosage de produit par le consommateur ;
• un nombre élevé de manipulation liées au remplissage du bac par l'opérateur en charge du conditionnement ;
• un besoin de nettoyer l'intégralité du bac avant son remplissage ; ou encore
• une exposition des produits à l'atmosphère ambiante, notamment à la lumière et à l'air extérieur.

It involves in particular:

• a high number of manipulations linked to product dosage by the consumer;
• a high number of manipulations linked to filling the container by the operator in charge of packaging;
• a need to clean the entire tank before filling; or
• exposure of products to the ambient atmosphere, in particular to light and outside air.

By operator, we understand here any person responsible for packaging the product at the point of sale in order to sell it.

The Applicant also points out that the risks of contamination linked to this type of packaging, in particular for food products, are particularly high. To overcome these drawbacks, a second design variant is known which aims to use hopper type containers having an operable opening in the lower portion, for example a movable flap.

This is disclosed for example in the document WO 99/53808A2 .

According to this second variant, the user places a bag or another container at the opening and activates it, for example using a handle or a crank.

Filling is generally done via an opening in the upper portion or on the front of the container.

This second variant makes it possible in particular to limit the exposure of the products and to reduce the risks associated with dosing by the user, but retains or even increases those linked to filling the container.

Additionally, while containers may be filled with a variety of products, any change requires potentially complex cleaning and modification of container labeling to ensure product traceability.

Managing a wide variety of products and therefore containers therefore requires significant investment and maintenance.

The document WO2019/110532A1 discloses a solution aimed at remedying these drawbacks.

• un contenant d'au moins un produit en vrac se présentant sous la forme d'une boîte rigide ou semi-rigide utilisée pour conditionner le produit en vrac depuis un site de production et/ou de conditionnement jusqu'à un lieu de commercialisation ; et
• un système de distribution comprenant des moyens de réception aptes à recevoir la boîte et présentant un orifice couvert par un obturateur dont l'actionnement permet l'ouverture ou la fermeture de l'orifice pour la distribution du produit.

This document more particularly proposes a storage and distribution device comprising:

• a container of at least one bulk product in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid box used to package the bulk product from a production and/or packaging site to a place of marketing; And
• a distribution system comprising reception means capable of receiving the box and having an orifice covered by a shutter whose actuation allows the opening or closing of the orifice for the distribution of the product.

The container and the distribution system each have a complementary shape and are mounted relative to each other in a sliding connection; this slide connection amount requires a complex and expensive design which is the only one capable of ensuring the distribution of the product in bulk.

Thus, once the box is mounted on the distribution system, it has an inclined lower face forming a slope guiding the product to the orifice so that the bulk product moves up to the orifice. orifice for gravity discharge of the product through the orifice when the shutter is in the open position.

This document WO2019/110532A1 therefore proposes a solution making it possible to eliminate the filling phase by using as a container the same box as that used to package the product in bulk from its production and/or packaging site to the place of marketing.

Thus, the containers no longer need to be filled or cleaned as in the solutions of the prior art. The operator simply replaces the empty box with a new pre-filled box.

Replacing the box requires turning the new box over in order to position it on the system.

Such handling may result in loss of said product which would fall to the ground. The document therefore provides for an opening on one side of the box (and not on the underside).

As long as the container is not positioned on the system, this opening is closed. This requires the design of a pre-cut line on this side. The operator in charge of packaging must therefore release this opening by pulling on this pre-cut.

On the one hand, this always leads to product falls during the box positioning phase by turning it over; on the other hand, the design of this box remains complex (design of an inclined lower face, a pre-cut and a specific shape allowing the slide connection with its support).

• un système de conditionnement et de distribution permettant une conservation de la matière dans des trémies dans un matériau non-étanche comme le carton (et peu respectueux de l'environnement) : ceci nécessite le plus souvent un sachet plastique additionnel à l'intérieur de cette trémie pour créer une barrière ;
• une démarque inconnue importante avec la matière qui ne s'écoule pas et reste coincée à l'intérieur, pas de suivi de la portion ;
• un système qui nécessite une étape de reconditionnement car n'est pas adapté au mode le plus courant de conditionnement dans l'industrie agroalimentaire, à savoir les ensacheuses verticales.

The Applicant further submits that the solution proposed in this document has numerous other drawbacks; it offers in particular:

• a packaging and distribution system allowing the conservation of the material in hoppers in a non-watertight material such as cardboard (and not very environmentally friendly): this most often requires an additional plastic bag inside this hopper to create a barrier;
• a significant shrinkage with the material which does not flow and remains stuck inside, no tracking of the portion;
• a system which requires a reconditioning step because it is not adapted to the most common method of packaging in the food industry, namely vertical bagging machines.

For these reasons, the Applicant submits that the solutions of the prior art are not fully satisfactory. Current gravity hopper filling systems do not guarantee food safety and hygiene during the hopper filling stage.

To prevent any risk of contamination, the technical problem to be resolved given the state of the art above is the following: being able to open a bag by making any contact between the operator and the materials contained in the bag impossible, by limiting handling as much as possible and guaranteeing the absence of leaks or loss of material.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to improve the situation described above.

• une trémie configurée pour être placée sous un sac de conditionnement du produit en vrac et destinée à recevoir le produit en vrac pour un stockage dudit produit en vrac, ladite trémie comprenant des moyens de distribution dudit produit en vrac ;
• un dispositif d'ouverture du sac de conditionnement pour le déversement gravitaire du produit en vrac dans la trémie,

One of the objectives of the present invention is to remedy the various drawbacks mentioned above by proposing a solution for storing and distributing a bulk product having an innovative design facilitating filling and packaging operations and reducing handling during processing. upkeep and maintenance phases. To this end, the object of the present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a storage and distribution system for a bulk product comprising:

• a hopper configured to be placed under a bag for packaging the bulk product and intended to receive the bulk product for storage of said bulk product, said hopper comprising means for distributing said bulk product;
• a device for opening the packaging bag for gravity dumping of the bulk product into the hopper,

Advantageously, the opening device is in the form of a clamp, the actuation of which allows the opposite edges of the bag to be separated for the gravity discharge of the contents of said bag into the hopper.

It is understood here that, when using the storage and distribution system with a bulk product packaging bag, the bag defines two opposite edges, the clamp of the opening device having two parts, each part being respectively associated to one of the two opposite edges so that the actuation of the pliers, that is to say the spacing and/or bringing together of the two parts of the pliers, results in a spacing and/or bringing together of the opposite edges . The opposite edges of the bag are for example delimited by a lower weld of the bag.

It is further understood that the packaging bag, also called a container, can be assembled with the opening device and placed on the hopper, preferably in a removable manner, so that the opening of the bag by the opening device results in gravity spilling of the contents of the bag into the hopper.

Advantageously, the container is a box, preferably flexible, used to package the product in bulk from a production and/or packaging site to a marketing location.

• l'opérateur n'est plus directement en contact avec le produit lors de la phase de conditionnement ;
• l'utilisation du même contenant permet de réduire l'utilisation d'emballages ou de conteneurs additionnels ;
• l'utilisation du même contenant permet en outre de supprimer la phase de remplissage, souvent fastidieuse, d'un autre conteneur.

This is advantageous in particular in that:

• the operator is no longer in direct contact with the product during the packaging phase;
• using the same container reduces the use of additional packaging or containers;
• using the same container also eliminates the often tedious filling phase of another container.

Preferably, the container is made at least partially of a flexible material. Thanks to the present invention, the bulk product packaging bag can be opened so as to fill a gravity hopper, particularly inside a bulk product distribution system, limiting handling and avoiding any exposure. bulk product outside. The risks of contamination are thus minimized while maintaining simple use of the storage and distribution system.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprises a hollow body provided with a mouth opening into the interior of the hollow body, an orifice for distributing the bulk product and means for extracting the product contained in the hollow body through the distribution orifice, the bag, the hopper and the opening device being arranged inside the hollow body.

In other words, the hollow body defines the external structure of the storage and distribution system, the latter receiving the assembly formed by the bag, the hopper and the opening device, the product extraction means allowing a user to obtain a portion of the bulk product contained in the bag, so as to meter the quantity distributed by the storage and distribution system.

The hollow body comprises for example a facade and/or a flap, the opening of the facade allowing the reception of the bag and its closure maintaining the bag in position preventing any exposure to the external environment.

Preferably, the system further comprises a reception rail system integrated into the hollow body and composed of a first rail, called the lower rail, configured to receive the clamp, and a system for attaching an upper portion of the bag.

We understand here that the first rail makes it possible to position the clamp, which is associated with the packaging bag for its opening. The first rail is therefore located below the clamp and the bag in normal use of the storage and distribution system. The hanging system, placed above the bag, also makes it possible to hold the bag in position, in particular so as to ensure proper pouring of the bulk product without the bag collapsing under its own weight. Such a hanging system is therefore particularly advantageous when using a flexible bag.

In an additional embodiment, the clamp comprises at least one deflector configured to form a negative of the hollow body obstructing the rise of the bulk product beyond the deflector during gravity spilling.

In other words, the deflector(s) have a shape complementary to that of the hollow body so that, when the clamp is actuated and the edges apart, the interior of the bag communicates only with the hopper placed below the bag without communicate with the rest of the hollow body. The portion of the hollow body placed beyond the deflector, when the clamp is assembled on the first rail, is therefore completely isolated from the bulk product, further reducing the risks of contamination of the storage and distribution system.

The deflectors are advantageously positioned on either side of the clamp, so as not to obstruct the gravity discharge of the bulk product when the opposite edges of the bag are separated.

Preferably, the first rail is configured to receive the at least one deflector.

In other words, the deflector(s) are inserted into the reception rail system integrated into the distribution system in order to allow easier handling. It is further understood that the deflectors can be designed in a plane shape complementary to the first rail while obstructing the rise of the bulk product.

Thus, when the clamp is opened to release the material which flows into the distribution system, the deflectors come to match the size of the orifice between the hollow body and the bag, thanks to the reception rail integrated into the distribution system. distribution in order to avoid the rise of material in the upper part of the distribution system.

In a specific embodiment, the extraction means comprise a material displacement member arranged between the hopper and the distribution orifice, the material displacement member being actuated by drive means arranged along an external face of the hollow body.

It is understood here that the material movement member, for example an endless screw, makes it possible to control the quantity of bulk product distributed by its actuation, the material movement member being automatically supplied with bulk product by the hopper communicating with the bag. The drive means correspond for example to manual drive means, that is to say actuable by a user, for example a distribution wheel transmitting its rotation to the material moving member.

In another embodiment which can be combined with the previous modes, the storage and distribution system further comprises a bag cutting system, the actuation of which allows the formation of an opening between the opposite edges of the bag, the spilling gravity taking place through the opening when the clamp is actuated.

We understand here, in this embodiment, that the gravity spill as described above corresponds to a spill through the opening formed by the bag cutting system. This design thus allows the handling of a closed bag until it is associated with the storage and distribution system, further reducing exposure to the outside of the bulk product and the risk of spillage by handling the bag. This design also makes it possible to guarantee the formation of a regular opening, in particular with respect to a separation of the opposite edges of the bag aimed at undoing the lower seal of the bag.

Preferably, the cutting system is equipped with a second rail configured to receive a bag cutting blade and a guide configured to guide the blade to form the opening.

It is understood here that the guidance of the cutting blade makes it possible to control the formation of the opening, in order to ensure that a correctly positioned and dimensioned opening is obtained, compatible with the spacing of the opposing edges by the pliers of the device. opening. The pliers and the cutting system are for example designed jointly according to the desired dimensions of the opening and/or the bag.

For example, the top of the cutting system is equipped with a rail corresponding to the second rail and allowing cutting by a cutter which is inserted into the second rail. The cutter is thus guided for easy and clean cutting.

Preferably, the clamp comprises the cutting system and is deformable between an open position and a closed position, the clamp comprising means for maintaining the closed position configured so that, when the clamp is in the closed position, the opposite edges are held in contact with each other.

It is understood here that the open position of the clamp corresponds to the spacing of the edges of the bag and the opening, and the closed position to maintaining contact between the edges of the bag and the opening.

The clamp is for example sized to be positioned at the level of a lower weld of the bulk product packaging bag, the cutting system thus forming the opening on a lower end of the packaging bag.

In an advantageous design, the second rail of the cutting system is integrated into a first part of the pliers and the blade guide is integrated into a second part of the pliers. The opening is therefore formed centered in relation to the clamp, between the two parts of the clamp respectively associated with the two edges of the bag and therefore of the opening.

Those skilled in the art further understand that the means for maintaining the closed position make it possible both to guarantee the tightness of the bag at the opening, even after its formation by the cutting system, as well as to ensure that the pliers do not deform when using the cutting system, guaranteeing regular formation of the opening when the cutting system is integrated into the pliers.

Preferably, the means for maintaining the closed position correspond to a plurality of magnets arranged along at least one internal face of the clamp.

It is understood here that the internal face of the pliers corresponds, in accordance with a two-part pliers as described above, to a face of one of the parts of the pliers, which comes into contact with a face of the other of the two parts of the clamp, when the clamp closes. This design therefore makes it possible to guarantee the sealing of the bag when the clamp is in the closed position, while allowing the edges of the bag to be separated by applying sufficient force to open the clamp.

In an additional embodiment, the clamp has the shape of a deformable parallelogram articulated by two hinges.

It is understood here that the deformable parallelogram shape makes it possible to achieve a spacing of the opposite edges of the bag in which the portion furthest apart from the opposite edges corresponds to a substantially central position of the opposite edges, rather than an extremal position. The two hinges are for example arranged approximately halfway along the length of the clamp. The risk of the bag tearing is therefore reduced.

In an additional embodiment, the clamp comprises actuating means configured to come into abutment when separating the opposite edges of the bag.

It is understood here that the actuation means, for example two fins and/or lugs arranged at one end of the pliers, make it possible to actuate the pliers when opening, for example according to the deformable parallelogram mechanism as described above. When the clamp is in the open position, the actuating means come to a stop, preventing the clamp from being opened beyond this configuration. This design makes it possible in particular to avoid tearing of the bag linked to excessive spacing of the edges of the bag and/or the opening, and also allows precise sizing of the clamp in the open position, in particular by combination with the deflectors described below. -before so as to avoid any rise of material.

• un premier temps pour l'installation de la pince comprenant le système de découpe sur le contenant amovible, c'est-à-dire le sac de conditionnement ;
• un second temps de découpe de l'extrémité du contenant amovible à l'aide de la lame, par exemple du cutter sur rail, intégrée sur le système de découpe tout en conservant une étanchéité entre l'extérieur et l'intérieur du contenant amovible grâce aux pinces aimantées ;
• un troisième temps de mise en place du contenant amovible : celui-ci est retourné puis inséré sur le système de distribution, dans le corps creux, sur le rail inférieur venant accueillir les déflecteurs de la pince pour accrocher le contenant amovible à l'opposé du système de découpe. La matière est toujours maintenue dans le contenant amovible par les pinces fermées ; et
• un quatrième temps d'ouverture de la pince, par exemple une fois la façade du corps creux fermée, par l'action des ailerons, ce qui libère la matière qui s'écoule dans le système de distribution, en particulier via la trémie vers les moyens d'extraction.

This design, by combination or not of the embodiment variants described above, makes it possible to prepare the packaging of the products in four stages:

• a first step for installing the pliers comprising the cutting system on the removable container, that is to say the packaging bag;
• a second step of cutting the end of the removable container using the blade, for example the rail cutter, integrated into the cutting system while maintaining a seal between the exterior and the interior of the removable container thanks to with magnetic tweezers;
• a third step of setting up the removable container: this is turned over then inserted on the distribution system, in the hollow body, on the lower rail accommodating the deflectors of the clamp to hang the removable container opposite the system of cutting. The material is always held in the removable container by the closed clamps; And
• a fourth opening time of the clamp, for example once the facade of the hollow body is closed, by the action of the fins, which releases the material which flows into the distribution system, in particular via the hopper towards the means of extraction.

The product from the container pours at least partly into the hollow body, which allows consumers, by activating the extraction means, to recover the product under the dispensing orifice.

Keeping the removable container closed until it is placed behind the front of the hopper and opening it from the outside puts an end to the disadvantages encountered with current solutions requiring filling of a container by transfer; the operator is no longer forced to pick up the product that has fallen to the ground during filling.

Once the container is emptied, the operator simply replaces the container by repeating the packaging operation with a new filled container. This new and innovative design therefore facilitates the operations of the operator in charge of packaging.

The magnetic pressure of the cutting system clamps on the top of the removable container prevents the risk of contamination with the outside and the risk of loss.

• une partie fixe associée à une structure porteuse ;
• une partie mobile ; et
• au moins un système de stockage et de distribution selon le premier aspect de l'invention, assemblé avec la partie mobile.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a distributor of bulk products comprising:

• a fixed part associated with a supporting structure;
• a moving part; And
• at least one storage and distribution system according to the first aspect of the invention, assembled with the mobile part.

In other words, the product distributor, also called a loading system, comprises a fixed part and a mobile part, the fixed part being intended to be integral with a supporting structure such as for example the supporting structure of a piece of furniture conditioning.

Preferably, the mobile part is able to be assembled integrally with the distribution system.

According to a preferred variant, the distribution system is removably mounted on the mobile part of the loading system.

In one example, the distribution system is inserted into the mobile part of the loading system via, for example, a slide fixed on load bars.

Thus, the object of the present invention, through its various functional and structural aspects described above, provides operators and consumers with a solution of innovative storage and distribution, as well as a loading system implementing this storage and distribution solution, the design of which allows kinematics to facilitate packaging operations in particular by avoiding manual filling by transfer.

Description of figures

• [Fig.1]
  La figure 1 représente schématiquement un distributeur de produits en vrac recevant une pluralité de systèmes de stockage et de distribution selon la présente invention ;
• [Fig.2] [Fig.3] [Fig.4]
  Les figures 2 à 4 représentent schématiquement un système de stockage et de distribution selon la présente invention ;
• [Fig.5]
  La figure 5 représente schématiquement une vue en coupe d'un système de stockage et de distribution conforme aux figures 2 à 4 ;
• [Fig.6] [Fig.7] [Fig.8] [Fig.9] [Fig.10] [Fig.11]
  Les figures 6 à 11 représentent schématiquement une pince d'un système de stockage et de distribution conforme aux figures 2 à 4.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description below with reference to the figures 1 to 11 annexed which illustrate an example of implementation devoid of any limiting character and in which:

• [ Fig.1 ]
  There figure 1 schematically represents a bulk product distributor receiving a plurality of storage and distribution systems according to the present invention;
• [ Fig.2 ] [ Fig.3 ] [ Fig.4 ]
  THE figures 2 to 4 schematically represent a storage and distribution system according to the present invention;
• [ Fig.5 ]
  There Figure 5 schematically represents a sectional view of a storage and distribution system conforming to the figures 2 to 4 ;
• [ Fig.6 ] [ Fig.7] [Fig.8] [Fig.9 ] [ Fig.10 ] [ Fig.11 ]
  THE figures 6 to 11 schematically represent a clamp of a storage and distribution system conforming to the figures 2 to 4 .

detailed description

A device for storing and distributing a bulk product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a packaging unit comprising such a device as well as the method associated with it will now be described in what follows with reference jointly with the figures 1 to 11 .

As a reminder, one of the objectives of this document is to provide operators responsible for packaging bulk products at the point of sale with an easy-to-use solution which limits handling, reduces material costs and limits cleaning and cleaning operations. maintenance.

One of the other objectives of the present invention consists of providing end consumers with an intuitive and aesthetic storage and distribution device. allowing the distribution of bulk products that have not been in contact with other people (operators and consumers) to comply with health standards.

This is made possible in the example described below.

In this example and as described in figure 1 , we have a distributor 1 of bulk products comprising a plurality of storage and distribution systems. The bulk product distributor 1 is for example configured for the distribution of a large number of bulk products, each storage and distribution system being associated with a particular bulk product. Each storage and distribution system is for example assembled with a mobile part of the distributor 1, the mobile part being articulated with a fixed part of the distributor, the fixed part being integral with the overall structure of the distributor 1, for example a structure supporting the distributor 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the mobile part is configured to pass between a first position, called filling position, in which at least one storage and distribution system can be supplied with bulk product, and a second position, called filling position. service, in which storage and distribution systems can only be used for the distribution of bulk products. This design thus makes it possible to operate the distributor of bulk products, for example in the field of sales, by allowing its filling by an authorized operator while preventing contamination of the interior of each storage and distribution system during its normal use. According to a first design, the storage and distribution system is integral with the mobile part, the movement of the mobile part only allowing the storage and distribution system to be exposed for its filling, so as to reduce the number of moving parts and avoid handling errors.

According to a second design, the storage and distribution system is at least partially removable with respect to the mobile part, for example placed on a slide of the mobile part serving as a support for the storage and distribution system. This design allows the storage and distribution system to be removed for filling, making it easier to supply.

Such a storage and distribution system is described below with regard to the figures 2 to 11 . This storage and distribution system comprises in particular a hopper 17 receiving a bag 10 ( figures 4 And 5 ) and a clamp 19 ( figures 5 to 11 ), which is characteristic of the invention. The bag 10, also called container, is for example in the form of a flexible box.

In this example, we favor the use of the container 10 having previously been used to package the product in bulk from its production and/or packaging site to the place of marketing. We therefore use the same container 10 throughout the distribution circuit from packaging at the place of manufacture to sale at the place of marketing. Using the same container limits handling by the operator, facilitates storage and limits the use of additional packaging and containers. The storage and distribution system is therefore dimensioned so as to be compatible with a container 10 of standardized size in the production of bulk products.

In addition to the undeniable economic gain, this also makes it possible to respect health standards by eliminating contact of the products with other people.

In the embodiment described here, the container is delivered from the production site to the place of marketing in a closed form (to facilitate storage and transport).

The storage and distribution system thus receives the bag 10 so that the hopper 17 is placed under the bag 10 according to the example of the figure 5 , the clamp 19 being arranged above the hopper 17 and associated with a lower portion of the bag 10 along two opposite edges of the bag 10. Actuation of the clamp 19 thus opens the bag 10 for its gravity discharge into the hopper 17 , allowing the distribution of the bulk product contained by the bag 10. The clamp 19 can therefore be actuated between an open position, in which the bulk product pours out of the bag 10, and a closed position, in which the bulk product is kept in bag 10.

As illustrated in the figures 6 to 11 , the clamp 19 has for example a deformable parallelogram shape comprising two hinges 24 arranged approximately halfway along the length of the clamp 19. Thus, when the clamp 19 passes from the closed position to the open position, the ends of the clamp 19 s deviate slightly from the center of the clamp 19, reproducing a normal opening of the bag 10 so as to avoid tearing of the bag 10 when it is opened.

In this same example, the passage of the clamp 19 between the open and closed positions is advantageously carried out using actuation means 11, corresponding to lugs or fins extending from the clamp 19 and articulated with the clamp 19. Advantageously, the lugs 11 come into abutment against each other when the clamp passes into the open position, that is to say that the spacing of the two arms of the clamp is combined with the rapprochement of the lugs 11, the opening being completed when the lugs 11 come into contact ( Figure 9 And 10 ), while the lugs 11 are separated from each other when the clamp 19 is in the closed position ( figures 7 And 11 ). The opening of the clamp 19 is therefore done regularly and identically for each operation by simple pressure on the lugs 11 until they come to a stop, defining the open position of the clamp 19.

According to the example of figures 2 to 5 , the storage and distribution system further comprises a hollow body 13, 16 receiving the bag 10, the clamp 19 and the hopper 17. The hollow body is for example made up of an upper part 13 and a lower part 16 The hollow body 13, 16 is provided with a mouth opening into the interior 12 of the hollow body 13, 16, for example a mouth provided with a flap or a flap (not illustrated in the figures), the bag 10 being for example disposed in the hollow body 13, 16 via the mouth. The hollow body is also provided with a distribution orifice 15 in communication with the hopper 17 so as to allow the extraction of the bulk product during its gravity discharge. Advantageously, the hollow body 13, 16, for example the lower part 16, additionally comprises a material displacement member 18 ( figure 5 ), for example an extrusion screw, as well as drive means 14 of the material moving member 18. The material moving member 18 makes a connection between the hopper 17 and the distribution orifice 15 and allows the progressive extraction of the bulk product when the drive means 14 are used. The drive means 14 correspond for example to a distribution wheel arranged on an external face of the hollow body 13, 16, that is to say exposed to the outside of the storage and distribution system. A user of the dispenser 1 can thus manually operate the dispensing wheel so as to dose a desired quantity of bulk product output through the dispensing orifice 15. Optionally, and as illustrated in Figure 5 , a removable shutter 15' is provided for the distribution mouth 15, for example in order to avoid the accidental fall of bulk product out of use of the storage and distribution system. This design thus makes it possible to reduce product losses and once again limit contamination.

According to a particular design, the storage and distribution system further comprises a reception rail system (not illustrated) integrated into the hollow body 13, 16, and comprising a first rail, for example disposed between the first part 13 and the second part 16 of the hollow body, as well as a system for attaching an upper portion of the bag 10. The first rail, called lower rail, thus receives the clamp 19 associated with a lower portion of the bag 10, while the hanging system receives an upper portion of the bag 10, thus maintaining the bag 10 upright during the gravity discharge of the bulk product.

We understand here that the clamp 19 has a shape complementary to the lower rail so as to be held in position by the lower rail. According to the example of figures 6 to 11 , the clamp 19 has for example a plurality of deflectors 25 compatible with the lower rail, and allowing for example the clamp 19 to slide inside the lower rail so as to make the clamp 19 integral with the hollow body 13, 16. The hollow body 13, 16 has for example a flap along one of its side faces, allowing the deflectors 25 to be inserted inside the lower rail by longitudinal sliding. According to another design, the clamp 19 is inserted into the hollow body 13, 16 via the mouth in the upper portion of the hollow body as illustrated in figure 4 . The clamp 19 then rests on the lower rail, which serves as a support to adequately arrange the clamp 19, and by extension the bag 10, above the hopper 17. Obviously, the hollow body 13, 16, for example the part upper 13, has an opening for the lugs 11 to pass through. The lugs 11 thus extend from the hollow body 13, 16 and the bag 10 can be opened via the clamp 19 once the bag 10 is placed in position inside the body hollow 13, 16.

Advantageously, the deflectors 25 are configured to form a negative of the hollow body 13, 16 when the clamp 19 is in the open position, as illustrated in the figures 9 And 10 . The bulk product can therefore flow through the clamp 19, from the bag 10 towards the hopper 17, while being blocked by the deflectors 25, preventing its rise in the hollow body 13, 16. This design avoids the infiltration of bulk product inside the hollow body 13, 16 and clearly delimits its path from the bag 10 towards the distribution orifice 15 via the hopper 17 and the material moving member 18. The risks of contamination during use successive uses of the storage and distribution system with multiple different containers are thus reduced, and cleaning between two uses is simplified by reducing the number of affected parts.

According to a particular variant of embodiment, the storage and distribution system further comprises a system for cutting the bag 10, the actuation of the cutting system allowing the formation of an opening of the bag 10 between the opposite edges of the bag 10. The clamp 19 being associated with the opposite edges of the bag 10 and configured to move them apart, the gravity discharge of the bulk product takes place via the opening.

Advantageously and as illustrated in the figures 6 to 11 , the clamp 19 includes the cutting system. In other words, the two arms constituting the clamp 19 are equipped with cutting means so that the opening device and the cutting system are combined. This design makes it possible in particular to ensure that the clamp 19 is placed adequately and regularly vis-à-vis the opening formed by the cutting system, the positioning of the cutting system resulting directly from the placement of the clamp 19 on the bag 10.

In this same example, the cutting system is equipped with a second rail 22, here associated with a first arm of the clamp 19, the second rail 22 being configured to receive a blade 22', for example a cutter blade or any another form of blade suitable for cutting the bag 10. The blade 22' is for example removably mounted on the second rail 22, making it possible to remove the blade 22' after cutting so as not to block the opening of the clamp 19 and gravity dumping of bulk product. According to another design, the blade 22' is arranged so as to be placed in an eccentric position, as illustrated in the figures 6 And 7 , once the bag 10 has been cut.

The cutting system is also equipped with a guide 21, here associated with a second arm of the clamp 19, also making it possible to guide the blade 22' for the formation of the opening. Thus, the blade 22' is advantageously guided so as to form the opening between the second rail 22 and the guide 21, that is to say between the two arms of the clamp 19. Advantageously, the clamp 19 also includes means for maintaining the closed position, for example a plurality of magnets 23 ( Figure 10 ) configured to keep the first arm and the second arm in contact, ensuring that the clamp 19 does not open accidentally when the cutting system is actuated. Depending on the design, the magnets 23 can be arranged according to the first and/or the second arm of the clamp 19 so as to achieve a similar result, the dimensioning of the magnets 23 being carried out so as to ensure that the clamp 19 remains in position closed, in particular when subjected to the weight of the bulk product contained in the bag 10.

Thus, according to a particular embodiment in accordance with the figures 1 to 11 , the opening of the container 10 is done, once the cutting system positioned below the weld of the container 10, using the rail cutter 22' positioned on the second rail 22. The operator in charge of packaging places the container 10 on a flat surface, places the clamp-type cutting device 19 below a weld of the container 10 (the container 10 being turned over relative to its position in the storage and distribution system), closes the magnetic clamp 19 then activates the cutter on rail 22' to cut the container 10. The magnets 23 present on the clamp 19 make it possible to keep the container 10 closed even after cutting below the weld. The materials thus remain protected from any contact with the outside.

As a reminder, one of the objectives of the present invention is to facilitate manipulations, in particular those of the operator during the packaging phase of the container 10 with a distribution system, which can be that of an endless or gravity screw.

The operator in charge of packaging turns the container 10 over, places the upper attachment system, for example a clamp of the attachment system, on the container 10 on the weld opposite to that on which the attachment system is positioned. cut, that is to say in the upper portion of the container 10, then slides the deflectors 25 of the clamp 19 into the lower system of reception rail integrated on the distribution system and hangs the bag 10 by the system upper hook on a flap of the hollow body 13, 16, for example a side flap or an upper flap.

The operator in charge of packaging closes the shutter, for example held in position by magnets.

The operator in charge of packaging activates the opening controls, that is to say the actuation means 11, located at the end of the cutting system which has the effect, via the deformable parallelogram mechanism, of open the magnetic clamp 19 and release the material which flows into the distribution system.

The deflectors 25 match the shape of the reception rail system and make it possible to avoid communication between the top and bottom of the assembly, which prevents the rise of material in the top of the hollow body 13, 16 and reduces the maintenance and cleaning operations. The arrival at the stop of the actuating means 11 prevents the action of the opening control once open.

The transfer operation is therefore carried out simply here, with a minimum of handling and effort and without any direct contact of the operator with the bulk product.

It should be observed that this detailed description relates to a particular embodiment of the present invention, but that in no case does this description have any limiting character to the subject of the invention; on the contrary, it aims to remove any possible imprecision or misinterpretation of the claims which follow.

It should also be observed that the reference signs placed in parentheses in the claims which follow are in no way limiting in nature; these signs have the sole purpose of improving the intelligibility and understanding of the claims which follow as well as the scope of the protection sought.

Claims (13)

Storage and distribution system for a bulk product comprising: - a hopper (17) configured to be placed under a bag (10) for packaging said bulk product and intended to receive said bulk product for storage, said hopper (17) comprising means for distributing said bulk product; - a device for opening said packaging bag (10) for gravity discharge of said bulk product into said hopper (17), said system being characterized in that said opening device is in the form of a clamp (19) whose actuation allows the opposite edges of said bag (10) to be separated by gravity for the contents of said bag (10) to be discharged by gravity ) in said hopper (17). System according to claim 1, which further comprises a hollow body (13, 16) provided with a mouth opening into the interior (12) of said hollow body (13, 16), a distribution orifice (15) of said bulk product and means (14, 18) for extracting said product contained in said hollow body (13, 16) through said distribution orifice (15), said bag (10), said hopper (17) and said device opening being arranged inside said hollow body (13, 16). System according to claim 2, which further comprises a reception rail system integrated into said hollow body (13, 16) and composed of a first rail, called lower rail, configured to receive said clamp (19), and a system for attaching an upper portion of said bag (10). System according to one of claims 2 or 3, in which said clamp (19) comprises at least one deflector (25) configured to form a negative of said hollow body (13, 16) obstructing the rise of said bulk product beyond said deflector (25) during said gravity spill. System according to claim 4 in combination with claim 3, wherein said first rail is configured to receive said at least one baffle (25). System according to one of claims 2 to 5, in which said extraction means (14, 18) comprise a material moving member (18) arranged between said hopper (17) and said distribution orifice (15), said material moving member (18) being actuated by drive means (14) arranged along an external face of said hollow body (13, 16). System according to one of claims 1 to 6, which further comprises a system for cutting said bag (10) whose actuation allows the formation of an opening between said opposite edges of said bag (10), said gravity discharge taking place through said opening during said actuation of said clamp (19). System according to claim 7, in which said cutting system is equipped with a second rail (22) configured to receive a blade (22') for cutting said bag (10) and with a guide (21) configured to guide said blade (22') for said formation of said opening. System according to claim 7 or 8, in which said clamp (19) comprises said cutting system and is deformable between an open position and a closed position, said clamp (19) comprising means for maintaining the closed position configured so that, when said clamp (19) is in the closed position, said opposite edges are kept in contact with each other. System according to claim 9, in which said means for maintaining the closed position correspond to a plurality of magnets (23) arranged along at least one internal face of said clamp (19). System according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which said clamp (19) has the shape of a deformable parallelogram articulated by two hinges (24). System according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which said clamp (19) comprises actuating means (11) configured to come into abutment during said spacing of said opposite edges of said bag (10). Distributor (1) of bulk products including: - a fixed part associated with a supporting structure; - a mobile part; And - at least one storage and distribution system according to one of claims 1 to 12 assembled with said mobile part.

Images