IL299878A - Device for unloading of package contents - Google Patents

Description

WO 2022/0198805u0001 u0001 PCT/RU2021/000309u0001 DEVICE FOR UNLOADING OF PACKAGE CONTENTS Field of invention The claimed technical solution relates to devices arranged on container packages in order to unload the package contents.

Background The prior art discloses numerous packages manufactured from flexible materials, such as boxes, bags for storage of free-running granulated or powder products, including tea, coffee, cereal, etc. Such container packages can contain a device for unloading of package contents. Those were described in patents US1847028A, US2064029A, US2593778A, US2946496A, US3426955A and others.

Accordingly, patent US 2,069,281 published on 02.02.1937, cl. B65D 33/36, discloses a device for unloading package contents, which is installed on the package, more specifically, above the opening located on the top flap of the package. On the middle part of the top flap, weakened lines are made to form the device for unloading package contents, and the said device contains a tray with a pulling element and flanges with edge elements providing fixation of the tray on the surface of the package top flap when the tray is open.

However, there are disadvantages to this structure of device for unloading of package contents, for instance, in the open position, the edge elements of the tray flanges only allow putting the tray into a position where the opening angle is less than 90°. This position of the tray considerably limits the user’s visibility of the area for unloading of the package contents into the tray. In conditions of limited visibility, the user is forced to resort to additional manipulations with the package in order to force the contents out. When folding the tray back into the package, the former can fall inside the package as the tray is retained only by the thin edge part of the package top flap and the thin edge part of the device for unloading, which provide an unreliable means of retaining. Moreover, the device for unloading is located on the middle part of the package top flap, which leads to u0002u0001u0003u0001u0002u0001 appearance of "blind spots" on both sides of the device, considerably obstructing the unloading of contents from those spots.

The prior art also discloses a device for unloading package contents described in patent US 2,064,029 published on 15.12.1936, cl. B65D 33/36 (being the closest analogue), containing a tray with flanges and a pulling element. The device for unloading package contents is made on the narrow side wall of the package, as the continuation thereof, and includes a tray for unloading with side flanges providing retaining of the tray in open position, and a pulling element providing a protruding part of the unloading tray.

The said device, however, also presents structural disadvantages, such as the tray width being equal to the package side wall width. Due to this fact, there is a possibility of unloading into the tray of much more of the package contents than the user needs.

Consequently, the process of unloading can become uncontrollable. Moreover, the device for unloading package contents is retained in a position where the opening angle cannot exceed 90°. This forces the user to make additional efforts in order to force the package contents from the tray into a container, that is, make additional movements requiring perfect coordination. When folding the tray back into the package, the coarse edge of the tray shall frictionally cling to the contiguous coarse edge of the prominent part of the package, retaining the device in a closed position without the use of additional means of retaining. However, this way of retaining the device in a closed position is not completely reliable: if the package is turned sideways (or over), the package contents can spill as affected by their own weight.

Concept of the claimed solution The technical problem solved by the claimed device is related with correction of disadvantages known from the prior art.

The technical result that can be obtained from implementation of the claimed technical solution consists in provision of a reliable, iterative retaining of the unloading device, both in folded (closed) position, when the opening for unloading is covered, and in open position, at any opening angle of the device selected by the user, and consequently, in increased controllability of the process of package contents unloading. u0002u0001u0004u0001u0002u0001 This technical result is achieved by creation of a device for unloading of package contents arranged above a package outlet hole, including a tray with flanges, an outlet valve and a supporting element, at that, when folded, the tray is located under the outlet valve and is retained on the supporting element, wherein the outlet valve is equipped with flaps designed with the possibility to retain the tray flanges and form an opening when the tray is put into an open position.

At that, the tray is designed with the possibility of opening at an angle exceeding 90°, and the edges of the tray flanges are free from any attachments on three sides thereof.

The tray has a pulling element and slots made on the supporting element. When folded, the tray is retained by the tray flanges located in slots made on the supporting element.

Moreover, the flaps of the outlet valve retain the tray in a closed position on the supporting element.

In a particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the elements thereof such as the tray with flanges, the outlet valve, and the supporting element, can be designed as parts of the package and formed from a single blank.

In another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray with flanges, the outlet valve, and the supporting element are designed as separate elements with the possibility of installing those on the package, above the outlet hole made on the package.

In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray with flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can represent a single structure, with the possibility of installing it on the package, above the outlet hole made on the package.

In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray with flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can be designed as a combination of elements partly installed on the package and partly manufactured separately, with the possibility of attaching those to the package, above the outlet hole made on the package.

The advantage of the claimed solution for the device for unloading of the package contents is the possibility to deflect the device tray at an angle exceeding 90° as well as retention of possibility to deflect the device tray at an angle less than 90°. This is achieved u0002u0001u0005u0001u0002u0001 by the fact that the tray flanges are not attached to the package on which the device for unloading is located, but are only attached to the tray by their only edge, along the long lateral sides of the tray, so that the user can deflect the tray at a necessary angle. This position of the tray allows the user to control the area of visibility of the package outlet hole in order to unload the package contents freely and without any additional manipulations with the package, due to the possibility to install the tray at an angle exceeding angle of friction of the unloaded package contents on the tray surface.

At that, the tray position chosen by the user is reliably retained as the tray flanges are supported from outside by the outlet valve flaps. In addition, such angle of unloading of the package contents ensures that the device area is fully visible to the user, consequently, the user can fully control the process of contents unloading through the package outlet hole.

After unloading of the package contents, the package outlet hole can be reliably closed as the tray can be freely returned into its initial position through the outlet valve, the package outlet hole can be covered with the tray, and the tray flanges can be retained in slots made on the supporting element. The tray can also be additionally covered from above by the outlet valve flaps, as the junction line for the outlet valve flaps can be made as a curve, so that the protruding elements of one flap would be placed between the protruding elements of the opposite flap, forming a junction similar to a flat «zip fastener» and being held together by the friction of the edging surfaces of the flap’s protruding elements, which are placed into each other, providing additional countermeasure against spontaneous opening of the package outlet hole.

Thus, the claimed device for unloading of package contents is different from other devices for unloading of package contents known from the prior art.

Brief description of drawings Fig. 1 shows the device for unloading of the package contents located on the package; Fig. 2 illustrates the outlet valve in a folded position; Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of package contents made from a single unfolding; u0002u0001u0006u0001u0002u0001 Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of the package contents from separate elements; Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of the package contents when the package is not represented by a box; where the following numbers designate the following structural elements of the claimed device: 1. Package. 2. Tray. 3. Tray flange. 4. Pulling element. 5. Outlet valve. 6. Longitudinal flap. 7. Edge flap. 8. Tag. 9. Supporting element.

. Supporting element slot. 11. Outlet valve opening. 12. Package outlet hole. 13. Tag cutout. 14. Package side wall.

. Package top flap. 16. Package bottom flap. 17. Device for unloading. 18. Weakened line of the pulling element. 19. Weakened line of the longitudinal flaps.

. Weakened line of the edge flap. 21. Supporting element hole.