FR2774659A1 - Trap plate for optimizing filling of containers with material by decreasing its expansion - Google Patents

Abstract

The anti-expansion device which is introduced into container to oppose the expansion of compressed material in the container comprises a flexible frame (2). The geometry of the frame corresponds to that of the container and is in contact with the container walls. The frame is covered with a flexible central mesh (1) and has an upper base (3) which enables the frame to be enlarged when a pressure is exerted on it.

Description

 The device or devices which are the subject of the invention relates to the filling of different containers by braking or reducing the foaming of the material contained.

 Currently many of these containers are not used in their best performance. This induces additional and unnecessary costs in large areas such as the purchase of containers, their transport, their storage ...

 We looked for the possibility of increasing the filling of containers by influencing the abundance of the material contained, taking into account the existing infrastructure, preserving the quality of filling and ensuring safety when using the device (s).

 It should be remembered that the device does not change the integrity of the container.

 In the word profusion, it is necessary to include / understand the following direction there: when one compacts a matter, a more or less fluid or elastic material, this compresses under the force which one induces to him.

 Three situations then arise either the material or the material breaks up or it crosses the threshold of permanent deformation or else it remains in the so-called elastic zone.

 It is on this third situation that the device which is the subject of the invention will act, because it is precisely this situation which is the most penalizing in the industrial world.

 When the compaction force will cancel the material whose contents of the container will return to its more or less initial shape and more or less quickly. This by default largely prevents optimization of the filling of containers.

 To remedy this lack, two solutions are immediately presented to the industry.

 The first consists in investing in a heavy, complex, imposing and therefore expensive compaction installation, with the additional risk if one does not wish to find oneself in the first two situations mentioned above.

 The second solution is to invest in one or more suitable devices without major infrastructure modifications and much less costly.

 The device which is the subject of the invention will perform two essential functions which are the slowing down of the expansion and, or maintaining the material or the compressed material while remaining in the elastic range when desired. The device in question does not replace the tool allowing compaction, but it is its complement.

 Depending on the wishes of the user and certain mechanical constraints such as the result of the proliferation, the devices can be designed in various materials such as plastic, metal and others.

 Depending on the type of receptacle and its geometry, the device or devices can be of different dimensions and shapes. In addition, the device can be intrinsic or extrinsic to the container.

 For design and market concerns, it is desirable that the invention be a device extrinsic to the container.

To optimize the function of the device, it is possible to favor its blocking by means of grooves or conical overflow designed inside the container.
In the event that this would be impossible for various problems, the device or devices must provide a friction surface with a high resistant coefficient on the wall of the container.

 To finish with the general area, the anti-expansion device (s) take into account the existence or not of a skirt or walls ensuring the protection of the container during the filling or compacting phase.

 For convenience, we are going to write two separate devices here but having the same functions.

DEVICE N "1 According to particular embodiments:
- The peripheral region of the device, that which will be in contact with the wall of the container can be cylindrical or cubic or even other (Fig 2).

 - The central mesh (1) may be of a different material than that of the frame (2) of the device.

 - The closing members (Fig 3) can also be intrinsic or not to the device.

 - the mesh or its equivalent should preferably be made of a resistant but flexible material in order to adapt to the variation in the diameter of the device during its operation and to support the thrust of the material or material abounding inside the container.

 - The device can, as desired by the user be in contact or not with the skirt or any other wall providing a protective function of the container during the filling or compacting phase.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

 - The figure (Fig 1) shows a variant of the device.

 - The figure (Fig 2) shows the two sections envisaged for the frame t 9,) of the device.

 - Figure (3) shows variants of the device closing members, three have a timed opening (1,2.3 a) The other a 4th press opening (4a).

 - Figure (4) shows possible embodiments of assistance in blocking the anti swelling device.

 With reference to these drawings, the anti-expansion device comprises a peripheral reinforcement (2) having a shape corresponding to the geometry of the container, the surface delimited by the reinforcement (2) is preferably traversed by a mesh or an equivalent intrinsic to the frame (1) to ensure good homogeneity of the device.

 The mesh (1) allows both blocking and viewing of the material.

 Visualization is very important because some containers can be subject to various controls including visual inspections of the interior of the container.

 The device can be introduced at variable stages of filling or compacting, it is therefore possible to have several anti-swelling devices inside the same container.

The device can be introduced into the container in several ways.
a) placing the device in a container with no skirt. It is slipped inside the container by means of a tool having a function identical to a piston either in force or in a free way by creating a tension on the device by the closing member.

 The device is then slid until it is blocked alone or by means of a conical groove or overflow designed on the container.

 If the device is inserted inside the free container, therefore in the closing phase, this will relax after a time T thanks to the closing members (1.2.3 a) or following a pressure P on the closing member. (4k.

The device can relax before a blocking member designed on the container. it is then with the force of expansion that the device will be put in place.
b) Installation of the device in a container in the presence of a skirt or protective wall.

 The device must preferably be placed in the closed position so that it is free inside the skirt or the protective wall so that it cannot be blocked inside the latter and be machined or see go up with the skirt when it is lifted.

 If, moreover, it is difficult to keep the device closed inside the skirt or the protective wall, provision must be made for the two elements in question to have few contact surfaces.

 For the rest it is still the abundant push of matter or material which sets up the device.

 DEVICE No. 2 According to particular embodiments.

 - The peripheral region of the device, that which will be in contact with the wall of the container can be of cylindrical or cubic shape (Fig 2).

 - a system of flexible tabs (1) is connected to the peripheral frame (2) to an upper base (3).

 - A protuberance system (4) is arranged in a non-random manner along the frame.

 - according to certain models, there will be an elevation (5) at the level of the upper base (3).

 - The system can be composed of an armature (2) without protuberance according to the elastic aptitudes of the materials used.

 - The upper base (3) can receive a spider (6) in order to increase its rigidity.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

 - Figure (5) shows a variant of the device.

 - Figure (6) shows a variant of the device in a blocking situation.

 - Figure (2) shows two sections envisaged for the device of the device.

 With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a peripheral frame (2) having a shape corresponding to the geometry of the container.

 The frame (2) will increase its diameter during the installation of the device, this is why it is desirable that it is protuberances (4) on its periphery in order to help the expansion.

 The legs which will participate in this expansion must be flexible and sufficiently resistant to bending stresses. of compressions and stretching, in order to favor the accompaniment of the upper base (3) for the compression of the legs (1). Two solutions are envisaged either an elevation (5) at the level of the upper base (3) or then replay a half sphere on the tool ensuring the compaction.

Operation is carried out as follows:
The device is placed inside the container using mechanical means, pressure has just been applied to the upper base (3). The upper base (3) partially restores the pressure on the frame (2) via the legs (1) The force is therefore distributed homogeneously over all the legs (1). The latter will undergo a compressive and bending force, this force will be absorbed by the enlargement of the frame (2).

 At the moment when the upper base (3) will be on the same horizontal axis as the frame (2), the tangential stress on the walls of the container and the stretching and compression forces of the legs (1) will be at the maximum .

 By continuing the pushing force, the frame (2) and the upper base (3) will no longer be on the same horizontal axis and the legs (I) will therefore tilt in the opposite direction and thus reduce the pressure on the walls of the container.

The device will therefore take its final position, the blocking force of the device will be sufficient to compensate for the rising force of the expansion of the contents of the container.

 It should be remembered that if the device is in the final position before being in contact with a blocking member designed on the container, two situations will arise: either it is the abundant thrust which will set up the device and wedge it against the blocking member, or the device will offer sufficient friction with the container and it will block by itself on the wall of the latter at any level.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1- Anti-swelling device of the type intended to be introduced into a container to oppose the swelling of compressed material in the container, characterized in that it comprises a flexible frame (2) which has a shape corresponding to the geometry of the container and whose diameter is variable to come into contact with the walls of the container in order to oppose the proliferation of compressed material in the container.  2 - Anti-swelling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible frame (2) is traversed by a central mesh (1) made of flexible material.  3 - Anti-expansion device according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises closing members to keep it in the closed position during its introduction into the container.  4 - Anti-swelling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a flexible tab system connecting the frame (2) to an upper base (3) to allow a widening of the frame (2) when pressure is exerted on the upper base.  S - Anti-swelling device according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper base (3) has an elevation (5).  6 - Anti-expansion device according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame (2) has protuberances (4) on its periphery to help its deformation.  7 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that it is intended to be immobilized in the container by wedging against a blocking member designed on the container.  8- Anti-swelling device according to one of claims I to 6, characterized in that it is intended to immobilize in the container by friction against the walls of the latter.