GB2600204A

GB2600204A - Bag side connector for a BIB package

Info

Publication number: GB2600204A
Application number: GB2107939.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darby Ian
Original assignee: LB Europe Ltd
Current assignee: LB Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-07
Filing date: 2018-12-07
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: GB202107939D0

Abstract

The application discloses a bag-in-box connector comprising a housing 10, popper 24 and external valve 44. The housing comprises a flange 14 with three cylindrical collars extending there from (16, 20 & 26). The second and third collar (20 & 26) are coaxial and extend from the same side of the flange. The flange further comprises a central bore 38 and at least one flow aperture 22 bounded by the wall of the third collar. The popper comprises a pin 36 that is able to move longitudinally with respect to the housing via the central bore. The popper further comprises a foot 30 or ledge for engaging with the distal end 32 of the third collar to form a leak-proof seal. Preferably the external valve is a single component of thermoplastic elastomer material TPE and is attached to the distal end of the pin. The external valve may comprise a diaphragm portion 46 and house the distal portion of the pin in a cavity (52, figure 3). Preferably, there are a plurality of flow apertures located around the central bore. The popper may comprise a frusto-conical portion 40 with a step 42. The third collar may also be tapered.

Description

package typically consists of a phistic bag seated insid.ebox and having a spout provided ye for liquid filling and delivery.

A. known bag side connector tbr a BIB package, coinpn -an dement haying a longitudinal axis and including aupper a-lower lace, wherein a lint collar protrudes from the upper face,. SO that chamber is defined, a second collar prat/lades -from the lower face, and the flangc hasat through bole in Ba e conne BIB package P relates to a bag for s.oring and transpor rig liqMd-usalt area delimited by said second. collar, and an internal valve de ice including an °btu trading, from the lower face of the flange coaxiallv id axis and a third pczt. of said second dShie alone collar and externally in respect of said area with at least one throagh hole, wherein s obmrator has a foot suitable for contacting a distal edge of said third collar to fan op wall from *hich an actuating pin protrudes and extends through a center bore of the package provided with such bag side connector is usually emptied riot at once, In I successive stages by introducing a so-called "nose' of an einptnng In chamber, which brings out the opening of the internal valve device and -follow application -the delniety of the liquid.

However, at the end of each emptying stage a fraction, of the liquid ta te chamber defined by the upper face of flange and the filar collar, as well, as te 'rapt i 31x line and is thus exposed to bacterial contarnnatton, since a is very difficui clean this 1 the possibly contaminated stagnating liquid can flow hack into th C retna liquid May het.ome a culu. re medum tar these ea :kccatdinglY. the BIB package's lifetime after the first liquid deli v t he sharply It in order to avoid thcr any possibly occurred bacterial contamination grows to unacceptable the I a bag side cow-hum of a soon as the be internal valve, vacuum a mher and may low back t tarnmanna s ided and the 3rB id corm deuce. on ion between the chi Thin, in said chamber. B es

by a 13 ons Ann objea. of the pres above risk of bacterb nick ation prevent, te _ present mver package having the a object is achieved by. means of a bag side connecter disclosed ft comprises an krnown throw_ external valve device arranged in said chamber ten the "nose of an enptyingn package according to the present thont any etIt of the liquid Tfoni the n extern' reruns that a is av the bag at -ordingly, any sobs/rat/rye risk r orial lifetime correspondingly Successive the bag.

rites the ba an stf,'arrit-s in e opens, we external 'al kid by aai stiimer (IPE), to which said obturator is ember of tli Ti reduez with a consequ y also pia sine COCTiCt the invent e number lIt C s conventionally puvided. The bag aideo ant of this ion is bus highly material a-tient rind an* nglid of components I simplification iieansemblin x i operation. ri

The Iva side connector o specifically skilled as also the not requiting ope es and fen ea of the pros v of non-li dr figure I is a perspective view of a to the invention, figure 2 is a perspective exploded connector of figure gores 3 to 5 are sehemati hag side connector of figure 1 duri package provided therewitli.

A hag side connector for BIB package, comp longitudinal axis 12 and i net a flange. 4 with 16 protrudes from upper face of the ft by the upper face of the flange 14 and the firs horn the lower face of the flange 14. Ftuthe plural les 22 circumferentially ar The bag side connector also comprises an C appare a side connector for a BIB packagç amp ergs of the process of a BIB es f cot 10 upper and a lower wberea a second collar 20 protrudes er area o u flange 14 has o g 1/.

device including an Obturator 24 detailed

description, gen, in hi sP

essive steps of e 14, so that a cylindrical chamber 8 is -slidable along the longitudinal axis 12 and a third collar 26 prowiding from the the flange 14 (10axi41Y and internally in tesPeet ot the second collar 20 and externally in respect the center area with the through holes 22 of the [lange 14. The distal portion 28 ofthe tapering.

The btututor 24 has a circumferential foot 0 suitable for contacting ei.rcunithrentiui distal edge $2 of the third collar 26 to font a iea1ctigbt seal, and a t 34 from itch an g pin 36 pnatindes and extends throuuh a ccnter hen e 38 of e t arnie 14.. The Inc me of the flange 1 psnapeu he through )leS 22 It a peripheral Lip 4 enclosing the c xlltupwards convexity. A hollow upper s 50 protrades upwards from the cert.tc' f the cup-shapd has 4o, The stern 50 hart an internal cavity 52 \vital an opening downw rds, wnht vduct the uppetportion of the p' he cavity 52 of the stem a.11 of the cavity 52 and nserted LmfatntM ste astomer (T pt.r htte of the gee cons arranged.' ange and is suitable fbr al tanther 8 and the through holes22 er 18.

ctor comprises an cyder ed by a *s an the cylitt tenter 44 pressant existing, in I. b-ntermpting thc. lii :enderie Generally, thc bt. side connector y syn etrical in respect of the Longitudinal axis g pro tweeds as -k c age provu y, ho oubly isolated iector in tor 24 WI-1MM I e tOOt 30 of the istrates the configuration o 48 or the nc td encloses the center area there te ransportmg of the third s contact Co

CC

tvith the boles 22, honed. The pin 36 gig. 2) having a tapering top is ti protruding fro groove 56 of the through a chtunglitnntial Successively, when plying iy' sa) enters he cylindrica 1 e alg-4),1 1 ke and bimg about the hanslation of tins latter towards the downwards of the obturator 24 the to the fixing of the pin 36 wit s tor the th e 14, and the tra e cavity 52 of 50, as well as the flattening he basis 46 due to the elasticity TPE =aerie constituting the member 44. The translation movement of the Obturator 24 is rendered easier by the corresponding profiles of the side until 40 thet cot and the tapenng distal portion 28 of ird collar 26 and brings about the detachment or the distal edge 52 of the third collar 26. tram the foot 30.

is thus opened, but the liquid in the hag is still isolated from the external ent by the external vahe which remains closed due to the ontact still existing between the upper face of the flange 14 and the lip 48, as well as an intermediate circuniferentialngion 58 of the flattened basis 46, Men (fig. .vacuum is applied in the emptying line and the external valve opens, because the presure drop in the chamber 18 brings about the rai4ing of the peripheral lip 48 from the upper face of the flange 14, whose through holes 22 ate isolated front the chamber 18 not even by the intermediate circumferential re Accordingly, the liquid within the bag is of the basis 46 which is med upwards.

and the bag is partially As six liquid exited emptyi s the 'Vacuum apphk atmn tennmates, the external valve closes and isoli mining in the bag from the external env onrnent It hi thus avoided that any liquid g stagnates in the chamber 18 and may flow back into the bag at the next e posing a risk of bacterial contamination of the liquid content Naturally, the principles n non Itnla c details of Construction and bed purely by way of embodiments may be wdely varied with out thereby be Niti The present disclosure also includes the following numbered clauses: 1 A bag side connector for a BIB package, comprising: -an element (10) having a longitudinal axis (12) and including a flange (14) with an upper and a lower face, wherein a first collar (16) protrudes from the upper face, so that a cylindrical chamber (18) is defined, a second collar (20) protrudes from the lower face, and the flange (14) has at least one through hole (22) in the area delimited by said second collar (20), and -an internal valve device including an obturator (24) slidable along said axis (12) and a third collar (26) protruding from the lower face of the flange (14) coaxially and internally in respect of said second collar (20) and externally in respect of said area with at least one through hole (22), wherein said obturator (24) has a foot (30) suitable for contacting a distal edge (32) of said third collar (26) to form a leak-tight seal, and a top wall (34) from which an actuating pin (36) protrudes and extends through a center bore (38) of the flange (14), said connector being characterized in that it further comprises an external valve device arranged in said chamber (18) and suitable for allowing/interrupting the fluid communication between the chamber (18) and said at least one through hole (22) in dependence on the pressure existing in said chamber (18).

2. A bag side connector according to clause 1, wherein said external valve device is constituted by a single member (44) of TPE, to which said obturator (24) is associated.

3. A bag side connector according to clause 2, wherein said single member (44) of TPE is arranged on the upper surface of the flange (14) within said chamber (18), and has a cup-shaped basis (46) with a peripheral lip (48) enclosing said area of the flange (14) with said at least one through hole (22) and an upwards convexity, and an upper stem (50) which protrudes upwards from the center of said cup-shaped basis (46) and has an internal cavity (52) within which the upper portion of said pin (36) is housed.

4. A bag side connector according to clause 3, wherein said pin (36) is fixed within the cavity (52) of the stem (50) through a circumferential relief (54) protruding from the internal wall of said cavity (52) and inserted into a circumferential side groove (56) of the pin (36).

A bag side connector according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein said area of the flange (14) delimited by the second collar (20) has a plurality of through holes (22) circumferentially arranged around said longitudinal axis (12).

6. A bag side connector according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein said obturator (24) has a side wall (40) that raises from said foot (30) and has a frusto-conical shape with an intermediate step (42).

7. A bag side connector according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein said the distal portion (28) of said third collar (26) is tapering.

8. A BIB package including a bag side connector having the features disclosed in any one of the preceding clauses.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bag side connector for a BIB package, comprising: an element (10) having a longitudinal axis (12) and including a flange (14) with an upper and a lower face, wherein a first collar (16) protrudes from the upper face, so that a cylindrical chamber (18) is defined, a second collar (20) protrudes from the lower face, and the flange (14) has a center area having at least one through hole (22), and an internal valve device including an obturator (24) movable along said axis (12) and a third collar (26) protruding from the lower face of the flange (14) coaxially and internally in respect of said second collar (20) and externally in respect of said area with the at least one through hole (22), wherein said obturator (24) has a foot (30) configured to contact a distal edge (32) of said third collar (26) to form a leak-tight seal, said connector further comprising an external valve device (44) arranged in said chamber (18) and, said external valve device being configured to close said center area of the flange (14) and including an upper stem (50), wherein in response to the emptying line entering the chamber (18) and the application of a vacuum to the emptying line, the emptying line pushes the upper stem (50) downward toward the flange (14), causing the external valve device (44) to move downward with respect to the at least one through hole (22), and the foot (30) of the obturator (24) detaches from the distal edge (32) of the third collar (26) allowing fluid to flow between the foot (30) and the distal edge (32) of said third collar (26) and through the through hole (22) and into the chamber (18).
2 A bag side connector according to claim 1, wherein said external valve device (44) is coupled to said obturator (24) A BIB package including a bag side connector having the features disclosed in any one of the preceding claims.