FR2837184A1 - ACCESSORIES FOR CONTAINERS OF FOOD LIQUIDS, PARTICULARLY WATER - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a method for filling a carboy with liquid foodstuff designed to be installed in a fountain for distribution of such a liquid. The liquid is introduced in a disposable flexible liner, inserted in the carboy, the flexible liner being such that it is pressed against the internal walls of the carboy at the end of the filling process. During the filling, the internal part of the carboy, which is on the outside of the liner, is preferably maintained at atmospheric pressure.

Description

bottle which is outside the pocket.

  ACCESSORIES FOR CONTAINERS OF FOOD LIQUIDS,

ESPECIALLY WATER

  The invention relates to a fountain for dispensing liquid food, in particular water, and to accessories for such a fountain. Wile generally relates to a reservoir for liquid food and accessories for such a reservoir. Water dispenser type fountains

  wind more and more widespread in public or private places.

  Such fountains have the advantage of not requiring distribution piping and the qualities of the water distributed are the same as those of the water sold in

single use bottle.

  The cylinders are, in general, semi-rigid and of large capacity. Thus, for cost reasons, they are not disposable like water bottles, but reusable, that is to say refillable several times. Each bottle generally has a cap closed by a security disc. To install the cylinder in such a fountain, you must therefore remove the tablet and pass a water distribution pipe through the cap.

being part of the fountain.

  When the bottles are flawed they are cleaned

then filled again.

  It was noted that despite the devastation of the cylinders, this one did not guarantee a total quality of this operation and that an accidental residual pollution remained possible. The risks are elsewhere, such as the authorities

sanitary worries.

  The object of the invention is to guarantee a water distribution fountain and, more generally, containers for food liquids such as fruit juices, against

  all risks of accidental pollution.

  The invention thus relates, according to a first of its aspects, a reservoir for a fountain for dispensing liquid food which comprises, on the one hand, a cylinder with a substantially rigid wall and, on the other hand, a flexible pocket, preferably expandable by filling with liquid, and for single use, this pocket being such that it can be applied against the internal walls of the cylinder when the reservoir is

filled with liquid.

  Thus the liquid food to be distributed is contained in a disposable pocket, which offers the same guarantees of food safety as for the distribution in bottle to

Disposable.

  In addition, the pocket being flexible, unlike a rigid tank, it does not include a restarted volume available for air intake when it is defective. Thus, unlike the fountains currently used, the outside air does not enter the pocket and is not in contact with the liquid, which eliminates the risks of pollution of the liquid.

restart to distribute.

  The flexible pocket of the fountain according to the invention can be used with conventional bottles, currently in use. Under these conditions, the invention does not require

significant investments.

  [a flexible shell does not strictly cover the inner walls of the container, the air opening between the pan and the internal walls of the container ensures effective insulation.

  guaranteed better frost resistance.

  Given that, with the flexible pocket of the fountain according to the invention, there is no longer any risk of conLaminaLion due to a defect in the devastation of the cylinder, the sanitary conlRicts imposed on this devastation can be released. In addition, it is possible to no longer limit the number of uses of each cylinder, as is the case today. Ultimately, the lifespan of boobons can be increased, which, on the other hand, presents an economic interest, and on the other hand, limits the amount of dole.

  caused by the scrapping of cylinders.

  In a prAf @ 6e realization the poobe is made of AlasL material. In this case, the AlasliciLA facilitates the distribution of the liquid because, when this pocbe is filled, it exerts a

lgAre pressure on the liquid.

  [when the flexible bulb is being filled the volume of the eGpace separating the pocket from the internal wall of the cylinder decreases. If air is present in this volume it is necessary to cook it to allow the bag to come

against the wall of the cylinder.

  To this end, according to one embodiment, the 2S cylinder takes an opening or exhaust air vent. This achievement has the advantage of preventing the use of

bonbonneG without potection pocket.

  In a variant, the opening of the pocket is secured to a ring or a plug for closing the

  cylinder which has at least one air outlet opening.

  [The invention thus relates to a process for filling with liquid food from a cylinder intended to be installed in a dispenser of liquid liquid, in which the liquid is introduced into a flexible bag, a single use, inLodual in the cylinder, the flexible poebe {LanL As at the end of the filling, it is applied against the internal walls of

the cylinder.

  Preferably, during filling, the internal part of the cylinder which is outside the bag is maintained at atmospheric pressure. The invention also relates to a method of dispensing liquid food using a cylinder filled in accordance with the method defined above, in which, during the distribution, the internal part of the cylinder which is outside the pocket is held at a pressure

  atmospheric or at a higher pressure.

  The invention also relates to a disposable bag for the application of the filling process defined above. This pocket is. for example, in elastic material, its initial volume, before filling, being substantially

  lower than the interior volume of the cylinder.

  The pocket includes, in one embodiment, a rim

  intended to straddle the bottle neck.

  The invention also relates to a bag and bottle cap assembly in which the opening of the bag is integral with the cap, the diameter of the opening of the bag being less than the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle and the cap having the minus a hole to put in communication with the atmosphere the interior space of the

  bottle which is outside the pocket.

  According to one embodiment, this assembly is such that the plug has a central opening for the introduction and evacuation of liquid, and this central opening is bordered by a cylindrical inner wall of which is integral

opening the pocket.

  The plug may further include, to plug its central opening, a central plug cooperating by snap-fastening with the cylindrical inner wall. According to one embodiment, the central plug has a central cylindrical part closed by an inner end plug which is separable from the central plug during installation of the

  cylinder in a liquid dispensing fountain.

  The invention also relates to a pocket and ring assembly secured to the opening of the pocket, this ring having at least one channel for putting the interior space of the cylinder which is outside into communication with the atmosphere.

in your pocket.

  The invention also relates to a cylinder for the application of the filling method defined above which comprises at least one hole for relating the external atmosphere and the internal space of the cylinder which is external.

in your pocket.

  The invention also relates to an accessory for a drinking liquid dispensing fountain which is characterized in that it comprises a flexible pocket, for single use, filled with the liquid to be dispensed and intended to be introduced into the fountain for this dispensing, the pocket. flexible being such that as it becomes vice of the liquid, its wall remains in contact with the free surface of this liquid so that there is practically no vice space inside the

  pocket, partially empty of liquid.

  The material of the wall of the flexible pocket is

elastic preference.

  In one embodiment, the pocket includes a rim

  intended to straddle a bottle neck.

  The pocket can be attached to a bottle cap.

  In this case, the bottle cap has, for example, a central opening for the introduction and evacuation of liquid, this opening being bordered by a cylindrical inner wall which is secured to the opening of the pocket. In one embodiment, the end of the cylindrical inner wall

  has a rim which is secured to the opening of the pocket.

  The opening edge of the pocket is. for example, overmold at the end rim of the cylindrical inner wall of the plug. The bottle cap may further include, for closing its central opening, a central cap cooperating by snap-fastening with the cylindrical inner wall. The opening edge of the pocket cooperates, in one embodiment, with the end rim of the cylindrical interior wall in the form of a gutter and is held against this rim when the central plug is put in place. In the latter case, it is possible to provide a ring interposed between the end edge of the pocket and

  an end edge of a sleeve of the central plug.

  lo The central plug has, in one embodiment, a central cylindrical part closed by an inner end plug which is separable from the central plug when installing a cylinder in a fountain

liquid distribution.

  The central plug has, according to one embodiment, a central cylindrical part closed by a pre-cut element, these pre-cuts allow the passage of a tube during the installation of a cylinder in a fountain of

liquid distribution.

  Predecuts have, for example, directions

radial or a spiral shape.

  The accessory may include a ring integral with the opening of the pocket, this ring having at least one channel for placing the space in communication with the atmosphere.

  inside a cylinder which is outside the pocket.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear with the description of some of its modes of

  realization, this description being made with reference

  in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a reservoir according to the invention before filling, Figure 2 shows a tank according to the invention after filling, Figure 3 is a view on a larger scale from ie filling the reservoir shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 4 and 4a show a fountain according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram of a pocket and a stopper according to the invention for another mode of embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention, FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram on a larger scale for a variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, FIGS. 7 and 8 show diagrams of parts of a reservoir for yet another embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 9 to 14 show diagrams further illustrating

  other embodiments of the invention.

  In the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figures 1 and 2, for the distribution of water in a stand-alone fountain, that is to say not connected to a pipe of a distribution network, there is provided a carboy 10 made of substantially rigid plastic material, for example transparent and, to guarantee the cleanliness of the water distributed, it is contained in a bag 12 of elastomer material which, before filling (FIG. 1), has a volume

  significantly lower than that of the cylinder 10.

  For example, as can be seen in FIG. 1, before filling, the length of the bag 12 is approximately equal to half the height of the bottle 10 and its diameter is substantially smaller than that of the neck 14 of the bottle ( figure 2). Generally, the diameter and length of the stretchy or elastic pocket will be determined by the viscosity

liquid food.

  After filling with water, the pocket 12 follows the wall

internal of the cylinder.

  In this example, the pocket 12 has an opening bordered by a rim 16 straddling the neck 14 (Figures 1 and 3). To allow the application of the bag 12 against the internal wall of the cylinder 10 (FIG. 2), it is necessary that during filling of the bag 12 with air the air being in the cylinder 10 can be evacuated. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the cylinder 10 has at least one hole

  (not shown) at any location.

  After filling the bottle is closed by a

  plug 20 (FIG. 3) of known type.

  This known plug 20 includes a skirt 22 retained by enc. labeling by the upper part ie 4 4 of the neck whose wall

  outer is covered by the rim 16 of the pocket 12.

  The stopper 20 has a central opening 26 bordered by a cylindrical part 28 plunging inside the cylinder and the inner end of this cylindrical part 28 is closed by an internal stopper 30 which itself has two flanges 32 and 34. The rim 32 is applied against the internal wall of the cylindrical wall 28 while the rim 34 is applied against the external wall of the cylindrical wall 28. The internal plug 30 is held at the end of the wall 28 by means of a edge snap 34

  on an external bead 36 of this wall 28.

  The central opening 26 is closed by a patch 40. The adhesive applying the patch 40 against the external wall of the plug 20 is such that when the patch 40 is peeled off it can no longer be re-glued. Thus, a cylinder without tablet 40 should not be used because it does not include the tablet constitute a guarantee against unauthorized access.

  authorized inside the cylinder.

  In a manner also known per se, the opening 2 6, the wall 28 and the plug 30 wind intended to cooperate with a distribution tube 42 of the fountain. Thus, when the cylinder is installed in the fountain, the neck turns towards the teas (that is to say in the opposite direction to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) and the tube is penetrated. distribution 42 in the opening 26. The end of this tube 42 which enters the cylinder is closed. Wile pushes the inner plug 30 which remains, in principle, snapped at the end of the pipe 42 as shown in broken lines in Figure 3. This conduit 42 has, inside the cylinder, openings 44 through which the water from the cylinder may drain. The duct 42 is connected to a tap (not shown)

outside.

  When the bottle is extracted from the fountain, the stopper 30 in principle comes back to its place at the end of the cylindrical wall 28, which guarantees the tightness of the

  after its separation from the fountain.

  Then the bottle is sent to a cleaning and filling center. In this center, the cap 20 and the pocket 12 blown away, the bottle is cleaned and a new pocket 12 and a new cap are installed before or after filling depending on the variant used, which guarantees the

tank cleanliness.

  Thus, the fountain equipped with a pocket-type bottle 12 has the same guarantees of hygiene as the water distributed in

single use bottles.

  Figures 4 and 4a show a fountain 50 equipped with a cylinder 10 and an inner pocket 12 according to the invention. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the bag is full, whereas in FIG. 4a, the water fills only about a quarter of the volume of the cylinder 10. During the distribution of water, the bag being flexible, it does not outside air does not rise through the liquid because the pocket tends to return to its initial low volume. Thus, the water does not come into contact with the outside air, which constitutes a guarantee

  additional quality of bottled liquid.

  The water contained in the bag 12 is distributed only by gravity. However, in the case where the pocket 12 is made of elastic material, the elasticity exerts a slight

  pressure which improves the regularity of water distribution.

  Thus, it can be seen that, with the invention, it is possible to continue to use the conventional bottles and plugs and that it is not necessary to modify the water distribution fountains, while considerably reducing the risks. water contamination. In fact, during filling, residues which may remain in the cylinder after devastation will have no contaminating effect and the air surrounding the

  The water distribution fountain does not cross the distributed water.

  The presence of the pocket 12 also limits the

  risks for the water distribution tank being filled

  wise. In fact, with the conventional filling process, it is planned to return the overflow of water coming back from the filled cylinders to the distribution tank. Thus, with the current system, a contaminated cylinder can contaminate the entire distribution tank, which cannot be the case with

  the use of a disposable pocket.

  In the embodiment of the invention described above, the only modifications made to conventional fountains are, on the one hand, a piercing of the bottle according to the variant chosen and, on the other hand, pockets

flexible at a low price.

  In the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figure 5 the pocket 60 is secured to a cap 62 intended to close the cylinder (not shown on the

figure 5).

  This stopper 62 thus comprises an upper wall 64 with a central opening 66, bordered by a cylindrical wall 68 projecting towards the inside of the pocket 60. The stopper also comprises an outer rim 70 similar to the rim 22

  in the embodiment represented in FIG. 3, that is to say

  say intended to click on the top of the bottle neck. The edges of the opening of the pocket 60 are secured, for example by gluing or heat-bonding, to the interior face of the wall 64, between the cylindrical wall 68 and the

outer rim 70.

  A central plug 72 is intended to close the central opening 66 after filling of the pocket 60, the plug 62

  being installed on the neck of the cylinder.

  The upper wall 64 comprises at least one hole 74 for evacuating air which is located between its external periphery and the pocket 60. This hole 74 makes it possible to evacuate the air located between the pocket 60 and the internal wall of the cylinder when the pocket 60 is filled. This hole 74 also makes it possible to bring air into the cylinder outside the pocket 60, when the latter becomes defective during use, that is to say

  when installed on the fountain.

  Figure 6 corresponds to an alternative embodiment of Figure 5. In this example the upper edge of the pocket is secured to the inner cylindrical wall 68. The central plug 72 has an outer cylindrical edge 76 intended for

  cooperating by snap-fastening with the internal cylindrical wall 68.

  In this example, the edge 76 of the central plug 72 has a groove 80 intended to cooperate with a rib 82 on the face.

internal wall 68.

  The central plug 72 has a central opening 84 bordered by an internal cylindrical portion 86 intended to allow the passage of the water distribution tube from the fountain (as described in connection with FIG. 3). The duct 86 is closed by an internal plug 88 similar to the plug 30 represented in FIG. 3 and having the same role as this plug 30. This plug 88, like the plug 30, is detached from the cylindrical pipe 86 when the cylinder is installed in the fountain and returns to close this conduit when the cylinder is removed from the fountain. It may however happen that during the operation of extracting the cylinder from the fountain, the internal plug 88 (like the internal plug 30 in FIG. 3) does not come back to block the conduit 86 and remains in the pocket 60 a discard. But this malfunction does not constitute

  not a disadvantage since the pocket 60 must be discarded.

  We will now describe in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8 an embodiment of the invention which makes it possible to use a bottle cap of the conventional type, that is to say a cap similar to the cap 20 described in relation to the Figure 3, without however having to pierce the cylinder to allow the evacuation of air during filling as well as

  the introduction of air during water distribution.

  To this end, the opening of the pocket 90 (FIG. 7) is secured to a ring 92, the lower face of which is intended to be supported on the upper edge 94 of the cylinder 96 and this lower face of the ring 92 present at the minus a groove 98 which opens, on a side, inside 100 of the cylinder, between the pocket 90 and the internal wall of this cylinder, and

  the other side, outside the cylinder.

  In the example we foresee a plurality of such

grooves 981, 982, etc. (figure 8).

  The closure plug is not installed during filling of the bag 90 with water. On the other hand, as described in connection with FIG. 3, during the water distribution the plug (not shown in FIG. 7) is installed . This plug partially opposes the entry of air into the space between the pocket 90 and the cylinder. However, the plug does not ensure complete airtightness and therefore allows the introduction of air into the space between the pocket 90 and the cylinder 96. This flow rate

  air is less important than when filling.

  But this difference between the flows is not a drawback because the water distribution is much more

  slowly than filling with water.

  Whatever the embodiment, in a variant, to facilitate the distribution of water in the fountain,

  an overpressure is applied around the pocket in the bottle.

  In the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the plug 110 has inwardly a sleeve 112, for example analogous to the sleeve 68 of the embodiment shown in Figure 6, having a its lower extremity a gutter 114 from which is

  secured by overmolding the pocket 116 (Figure 11).

  For this purpose, the plug is. for example, made of polyethylene or polypropylene with a gutter 114 whose bottom has regularly spaced holes 1181, 1182 and whose rim has lights 12O1, etc. also

regularly spaces.

  Then, this gutter is immersed in a bath of molten latex to make the pocket 116 welded and molded in the

  gutter as shown in figure 11.

  In this case, it is the assembly of the plug and the

pocket which is disposable.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the plug 122 has a peripheral part 122 and a central part 134. The peripheral part comprises a sleeve 124 with at its end a groove 126 receiving the rolled edge

128 from pocket 130.

  The rolled edge 128 is held at the bottom of the groove 126 by virtue of a ring 132 cooperating with the central part 134 which presents an outer sleeve 138 whose end edges 140 come to press the ring 132 against the rolled edge 128 in order to apply to the bottom of the groove 126 when the central part 134 of the plug is associated with the peripheral part 122 by cooperation of a projection 144 of the sleeve 138 in a groove 146 of the central sleeve of the peripheral part 122 of the

plug.

  In this embodiment, the diameter of the end portion of the sleeve 124 is greater than the diameter of the rest of the sleeve so as to produce a flange 150 constitute a stop

upper for ring 132.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the central part 134 of the stopper comprises a central sleeve 152 similar to the sleeve 86 of the example of FIG. 6 which ends at its lower end by a frustoconical part 154 having a role similar to the key 88 of Figure 6, namely that it prevents, or limits, liquid leakage when

extract the bottle from the fountain.

  In these two examples, this element 154 has cutouts, or precut cuts, to allow the tube 42 (FIG. 3) to be able to penetrate inside the carboy. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the precuts have a radial shape, that is to say that the cuts 156 converge at the

  center 158, along the axis 160 of the plug.

  In the example shown in Figure 14, item 154

is cut into a spiral 160.

  In these embodiments, the material of the pocket

is preferably expandable.

  Generally speaking, in all the embodiments, it is the flexible nature of the pocket which prevents that, during the dispensing of liquid, air can penetrate into the liquid because the upper part of the pocket which becomes vice collapses by gravity and leaves practically no room for air return. In other words, the upper part folds up and remains practically in contact with the free surface of the restart liquid. In the case of an elastic pocket, the folds

wind less numerous.

Claims (27)

  1. Method for filling with liquid food from a cylinder intended to be installed in a dispensing fountain for such a liquid, characterized in that the liquid is introduced into a flexible bag (12; 60; 90; 116; 130) , for single use, inserted into the cylinder, the flexible bag being such that at the end of filling it s' applied against the inner walls of the cylinder.   2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that, during filling, the internal part of the cylinder which is outside the bag is maintained at atmospheric pressure. 3. Method for dispensing liquid food using a bottle filled in accordance with the method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, during the distribution, the internal part of the bottle which is outside the pocket is kept under pressure   atmospheric or at a higher pressure.   4. Disposable bag for the application of the method   according to one of claims 1 to 3.   5. Bag according to claim 4 characterized in that it is made of elastic material, its initial volume, before filling, being substantially less than the interior volume of the cylinder.   6. Bag according to claim 4 or 5 comprising a   rim (16) intended to overlap the neck of the cylinder.   7. Pocket assembly according to claim 4 or 5 and bottle cap in which the opening of the pocket is integral with the cap (62), the diameter of the opening of the pocket being less than the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle. and the plug having at least one hole (74) for communicating with the atmosphere the interior space of   the bottle which is outside the pocket.   8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the cap has a central opening for the introduction and removal of liquid, this central opening being bordered by a cylindrical inner wall (68) which is integral the opening of the pocket (60).   9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the plug further comprises, for closing its central opening, a central plug (72) cooperating by snap-fastening with the wall cylindrical interior.   10. The assembly of claim 8 or 9 wherein the central plug has a central cylindrical portion (86) closed by an inner end plug (88) which is separable from the central plug during installation of the   cylinder in a liquid dispensing fountain.   11. pocket assembly (90) according to claim 4 or 5 and ring (92) integral with the opening of the pocket, this ring having at least one channel (98) for communicating with the atmosphere ltespace interior (100 ) of the cylinder which is outside the pocket.   12. Tank for the application of the method according to one   of claims 1 to 3 comprising at least one hole for placing   in relation the external atmosphere and the internal space of the   bottle which is outside the pocket.   13. Accessory for a dispenser for dispensing liquid food, characterized in that it comprises a flexible pocket (12; 60; 90; 116; 130), for single use, filled with the liquid to be dispensed and intended to be introduced into the fountain for this distribution, the flexible bag being such that as it becomes vice of the liquid, its wall remains in contact with the free surface of this liquid so that practically no vice space remains inside from the pocket, partially empty of liquid.   14. Accessory according to claim 13, characterized in that the material of the wall of the flexible bag is elastic. 15. Accessory according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the pocket comprises a flange (16) intended for ride a bottle neck.   16. Accessory according to one of claims 13 to 15,   characterized in that the pocket is secured to a bottle cap. 17. Accessory according to claim 16, characterized in that the bottle cap has a central opening for the introduction and evacuation of liquid, this opening lo being bordered by a cylindrical inner wall which is attached to the pocket opening.   18. Accessory according to claim 17, characterized in that the end of the cylindrical inner wall has a flange (114) of which the opening of the pocket (116).   19. Accessory according to claim 18, characterized in that the opening edge of the pocket is molded on the rim   end of the cylindrical inner wall of the plug.   20. Accessory according to one of claims 17 to 19,   characterized in that the bottle cap further comprises, for closing its central opening, a central cooperating cap   by snap-fastening with the cylindrical inner wall.   21. Accessory according to claim 18 and according to claim 20, characterized in that the opening edge (128) of the pocket (130) cooperates with the end flange (126) of the cylindrical interior wall in the form of a gutter and is held against this rim when the central plug (134) is put on in place.   22. Accessory according to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises a ring (132) interposed between the end edge of the pocket and an end edge (140) of a sleeve (138) of the central plug.   23. Accessory according to claim 17 or 20, characterized in that the central plug has a part ie central cylindrical closed by an inner end plug which is separable from the central plug during installation   a bottle in a liquid dispensing fountain.   24. Accessory according to claim 17 or 20, characterized in that the central plug has a central cylindrical part closed by an element (154) with pre-cut, these pre-cut allowing the passage of a tube during the installation of a cylinder in a distribution fountain liquid.   25. Accessory according to claim 24, characterized   in that the precuts (156) have radial directions.   26. Accessory according to claim 24, characterized   in that the precuts (160) have a spiral shape.   27. Accessory according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises a ring integral with the opening of the pocket, this ring having at least one channel for putting in communication with the atmosphere liespace   inside of a carboy which is outside the pocket.