NZ200843A - Bag-in-box container with pressurised dispensing system; contents avoids contact with atmosphere - Google Patents

Description

200843 Attorney's ref. P186/82L Patents Form No. 5 Fee $80 Priority Date(s): C+ C <?/ Complete Specification Filed: Class: Publication Date: . .5. P. A™ )?87 .. P.O. Journal, No: .......^7 ^■n r + -3 DEC 1984 ) Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PACKAGING AND DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS We, QUINVAN NOMINEES PTY LIMITED, a company incorporated in the State of Western Australia, of 47 Havelock Street, West Perth, in the State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement 200843 THIS INVENTION relates to the dispensing of liquids. In particular it relates to those liquids which should preferably or essentially be packaged and later dispensed fran such a package without contacting the package's environment, or which are affected by gross agitation.

The objects of this invention include the provision of a new or improved method of filling containers and dispensing from those containers by means of special filling and dispensing heads mating with special flanged spouts fitted to a flexible container, or containers within a 10 respectively sealed or ventilated rigid outer container, avoiding atmospheric contact and/or inclusion during coupling and uncoupling and atmospheric entry and/or product agitation during pumping.

The invention is particularly applicable to filling and dispensing 15 liquids from what are known as "bag-in-box" type containers wherein a bag formed or flexible plastics material or film (generally laminated) is housed in a rigid outer container which is generally formed of cardboard but which may be formed of a more rigid plastics material or metal as desired.

In its broadest form the invention resides in a container for packaging and dispensing liquids comprising an inner container formed of flexible material, an outer container housing the inner container, and means for applying pressure externally to the inner container to effect dispensing 25 of the liquid packaged therein, said inner container being provided with " 2 * n^PATENTC ■■ f t FEBS985 V>. ... ' 200^*3 a spout projecting through one wall of the outer container, said spout being capable of having a filling head or a dispensing head fitted thereto so that the liquid is kept free of atmospheric contact and/or agitation during filling or dispensing, and said spout being provided 5 with a removable seal which can be removed and/or replaced whilst the filling head or the dispensing head is fitted to the spout, said outer container being formed of a material sufficiently rigid to support the inner container when full and the pressure applied thereto. The means for applying pressure externally to the inner container comprises a 10 second flexible container located within the outer container and having a spout projecting through one outer wall of the outer container through which fluid under pressure can be fed into or bled out of the second flexible container and said outer container being vented to atmosphere. in another embodiment the outer container is formed as a rigid pressure vessel and has a second spout projecting therefrcm through which fluid under pressure can be fed into or bled out of the space between the flexible container and the walls of the outer container.

The various aspects of the invention will be wetter understood by reference to the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments suitable for the bulk packaging of still or carbonated wine or beer or other gassed or oxidizable liquids and wherein:- ««*•& _ _.t FE8S98S I — 3 — ^ p- RECEIVED "200SAK3 Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are sectional elevations illustrating the filling of a container in accordance with the invention and the dispensing of the contents of the filled container; Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive and 21 illustrate the construction of the spouts; Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive are sectional elevations illustrating the construction and operation of one form of filling head; and Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive are sectional elevations illustrating the construction and operation of one form of dispensing head.

The packaging unit shewn in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises a pair of flexible containers 3 and 4 formed of a laminated plastics material housed within an outer container 6 which is fabricated from rigid plastics ends secured to a spirally wound fibre board tube, a construction which is 15 sufficiently rigid to support the flexible container 3 when filled with liquid and withstand the pressure of container 4 when it is filled with fluid under pressure.

The liquid to be packed is held in a holding tank 7 under pressure of a 20 suitable gas P and is connected by a flexible hose 8 to a filling head 9 which is mated without inclusion of atmosphere to a flanged spout 2 as described hereunder with reference to Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive.

The flange of spout 2 is sealingly fitted to flexible containers 3 and 25 4. The flange of spout 5 is sealingly fitted to flexible container 4 200843 only. Spouts 2 and 5 are fitted to their respective flexible containers in positions enabling them to be both axially and radially locked into suitable orifices in the outer container 6. Hie rigid container 6 may be, but is not necessarily, placed for filling on the platform of a weighing device 11 which would actuate the closing of the filling head 9 valve and application of a bung 1 to spout 2 upon the mass of the liquid packed representing the correct volume to be packed.

FILLiINJ FUNCTION It will be seen from Fig. 2 that when filling head 9 is applied to spout 2 vacuum can be applied via a valved orifice 10 to ensure that the flexible container 3 and neck of spout 2 are virtually void of any gaseous contaminant.

The vacuum valve 10 is then closed and the filling head admits the liquid via the hose 8 from the holding tank 7.

The filled flexible container 3 occupies the available volume of the ^^20 rigid container 6 forcing the air from the interspace between the w exterior of flexible container 3 and interior of flexible container 4 via spout 5 and from the interspace between the exterior of flexible container 4 and interior of the rigid container 6 via vent V. ^25 When the required amount of liquid has been admitted to the flexible 2. OoSV-3 container 3/ the weighing device 11 signals the closure of the valve in the filling head 9 and bung 1 is inserted to seal the neck of spout 2.

The filling head 9 is then removed from spout 2 and a hygenic cap 24 5 (Fig. 7) is locked over spout 2. The package is new ready for delivery to the user.

DISPENSING FUNCTION The user's dispensing tap 12 is connected via flexible hose 13 to the dispensing head 14 which is attached to spout 2 as in Figs. 3-6. _ A pressurising head 15 is connected via flexible hose 17, two-way valve 18 and a pressure regulator 19 to a pressure source 20 which in this 15 case is a water supply. As shown in Fig. 4 the valve 18 is connected to the water supply and trapped air bled off via valve 16 on the pressurising head 15. Valve 16 is closed and valve 18 fully opened to pressurise the interspace between flexible containers 3 and 4 as the volume of flexible container 4 is restricted by the internal volume of 20 the vented rigid container 6.

The pressure of the water supply is thus transmitted to the product packed in flexible container 3. The dispensing head 14 is new activated and as described and depicted hereafter the bung 1 is internally removed 25 and the valve port to hose 13 opened. 6 Supply of pressurised liquid to the dispensing tap 12 has now been achieved without the admission of any air to the system.

The combined density of the flexible container 3 and liquid therein is less than that of the pressurising water. Consequently as the liquid is dispensed and the volume becomes less flexible container 3 folds upward, (Fig. 4) floating in the pressurising water until all of its contents have been expelled via spout 2 (Fig. 5).

As shown in Fig. 6 the user detaches the dispensing head 14 and removes from it the bung 1. As described and depicted hereafter, this process leaves the hose 13 unbroached.

The two-way valve 18 is then actuated to communicate line 17 to line 21.

Air may new enter the rigid container 6 via spout 5 permitting the water in the interspace between flexible containers 3 and 4 to be recycled to a header tank or alternatively syphoned to another use or to waste.

The rigid container 6 new only contains the collapsed and empty flexible containers 3 and 4 and may be removed from the dispensing site.

A second embodiment envisages the selection of a material physically and mechanically unaffected by the pressurising medium for the construction 200843 ot the outer container as a rigid pressure vessel.

The rigid pressure vessel 6 then may be constructed as a sealed container with the spout 5 integrated with 6 providing that the mounting 5 of the spout 5 in the wall of the vessel 6 is done in a fluid tight manner.

A configuration as above obviates the necessity tor flexible container 4 but will be seen to systematically function as described heretofore 10 except that upon expulsion of the pressurising medium at the end of the cycle, the flexible container 3 will expand so that atmospheric air will occupy the internal volume of the flexible container.

A tnird embodiment envisages the use of compressed air or other suitable 15 compressed gas as the pressurising medium.

In this case the pressurising medium may, but not necessarily, have a lower density than the combined densities of the packed liquid and the flexible container 3. Thus as the amount of the liquid is reduced, the 20 remaining liquid and its flexible container 3 will sink in the pressurising medium. The spout 2 is preferably mounted in the base of the rigid container 6.

FLANS ED SPOHT 2oo $ V-3 The flanged spount 2 (Fig. 7) which is sealingly fitted to flexible containers 3 and 4 preferably has a grill base 46 (Fig. 9) to prevent the flexible container 3 when emptied from being forced into the neck of spout 2 and/or the dispensing head (Fig. 18) and has external means 5 (such as bayonet ramps) of locking to the tubular body. The internal bore of the tubular body of the spout is preferably smooth and parallel and of such a diameter as to offer a sealing interference fit to barb section lands of the bung 1 (see Fig. 11).

The flanged spout 2 (Fig. 8) is preferably provided with a cap 24 which locks onto the spout 2 providing both axial and radial compression in addition to a hygenic covering to the spout 2.

The external base of the tubular section of the flanged spout 2 is 15 provided with a non-circular (in this case a square) form 25 (see Fig. 9) to radially locate the flanged spout 2 to the rigid container 6.

In this embodiment a plastics radially sprung washer 23 (Fig. 10) is . provided to slide over the outside of spout 2 after it has been located 20 in its square hole in the rigid container 6 thus locking it axially to container 6.

A similar method is provided for locating and locking to container 6 the smaller flanged spout 5 (Fig. 21) which is sealingly fitted to flexible 25 container 4. 7 V 200843 * FTr.T.Tm HEan The filling head (see Fig. 11) consists in this embodiment of a two chamber tubular body. The bottom chamber is provided with a socket 26 which will sealingly fit over a portion of the spout 2, an orifice 27 capable of supply connection to the holding tank 7 (Fig. 2), a valved orifice 28 capable of supply connection to a vacuum pump or similar and a bore to sealingly accept a piston and hollow rod asseirbly 32, the 10 piston and bottom chamber both being vented 29.

The upper charpber is constructed to form a double acting air cylinder with a piston sealingly fitted to the hollow piston rod 3 2 which sealingly passes through both top and bottom end plates of the upper |jL5 chamber. The upper chamber is provided with top and bottom orifices 30 and 31.

On the top end of the hollow piston rod 32 is concentrically mounted an air cylinder which operates a bung-ejector 33.

The assembled container is conveniently positioned and the hygenic cap 24 (Fig. 8) removed from spout 2.

FUNCTION 200843 9 Compressed air is supplied to orifice 30 of the upper chamber of the filling head ensuring that piston 32 keeps the orifice 27 closed, as shown in Fig. 11.

Compressed air is supplied to a bottom orifice 34 of the top air cylinder ensuring that the bung-ejector 33 is retracted and a bung 1 is sealingly inserted into the hollow of piston 32, as shown in Fig. 12.

The socket 26 of the filling head (see Fig. 12) is then sealingly fitted 10 over the top of spout 2. The valve 10 of orifice 28 (Fig. 12) is opened evacuating the flexible container 3 and neck of spout 2.

Orifice 28 (see Fig. 13) is then closed and compressed air admitted to orifice 31 (see Fig. 14)to drive up the piston assembly 32, thus opening 5 orifice 27 so that the liquid to be packed flows into container 3.

On completion of the fill, supply of compressed air is removed from orifice 31 (Fig. 15) and reconnected to orifice 30 thus closing supply orifice 27. Compressed air supply is now transferred from orifice 34 :0 (Fig. 16) to a top orifice 35 of the top cylinder, forcing the bung 1 sealingly into spout 2.

The filling head 9 (Fig. 17) is now removed from spout 2 and the hygenic compression cap 24 re-locked onto spout 2. 200843 The package has now been filled without the packed liquid contacting the environmental atmosphere at any time.

DISPENSING HEAD The user conveniently positions the container and removes the hygenic compression cap 24.

The dispensing head 14 (Fig. 18) is sealingly fitted on spout 2 by a 10 socket 26 similar to that of the filling head 9.

In this embodiment water of sufficient head is supplied via a pressure reducer and regulator 19 (see Fig. 3) to a two way valve 18. [5 The bleed valve-coupling 16 is connected to spout 5. The system is bled and flexible container 4 is pressurised with water as described heretofore.

The chamber 36 of the dispensing head (see Fig. 18) contains a sealingly '20 slidable vented 38 piston 37 with a hollow, externally threaded piston rod 39, the mating thread of which is in the vented 40 head of the chamber 36.

A bung extractor 41 is attached to the bung 1 in this case by a threaded 25 sleeve to the bung's threaded hub by rotating handle 42. The bung 1 is „ <S\ 12 " ' -3DECI984 * & •• 200843 then sealingly slid into the recess of piston 37 by turning handle 42 (see Fig. 19) over so that cam 43 or a similar mechanism imparts axial motion to rod 41.

The "T" bar 44 is then rotated so that the threaded hollow rod 39 withdraws piston 37 together with bung 1 (see Fig. 20) thus communicating a aelivery orifice 45 with the pressurised contents of flexible container 3.

When the contents of flexible container 3 are exhausted the "T" bar 44 is rotated returning piston 37 which closes orifice 45.

The dispensing nead 14 is then removed from spout 2 and the bung 1 is removed from the device 14 by rotating handle 42.

The supply line has now been disconnected from the container without the packed liquid coming into contact with the environmental atmosphere.

Claims (4)

200843 WHAT HE CLAIM IS:

1. A container for packaging and dispensing liquids comprising an inner 5 container formed of flexible material, an outer container housing the inner container, and means for applying pressure externally to the inner container to effect dispensing of the liquid packaged therein, said means comprising a second flexible container located within the outer container and having a spout projecting through one wall of the outer 10 container through which fluid under pressure can be fed into or bled out of the second flexible container, wherein said inner container is located within the second flexible container, said inner container being provided with a spout projecting through one wall of each the outer container and the second flexible container, such spout being capable of 15 having a filling head or a dispensing head fitted thereto so that the liquid is kept free of atmospheric contact and/or agitation during filling or dispensing, and said spout being provided with a removable seal which can be removed and/or replaced whilst the filling hea<3 or the dispensing head is fitted to the spout, said outer container being 20 formed of a material sufficiently rigid to support the inner container when full and the fluid pressure to be applied to the second flexible container, and being vented to atmosphere.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first flexible 25 container is located within the second flexible container. - 14 - 200843

3... A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer container is formed as a rigid pressure vessel and has a second spout projecting therefrcm through which fluid under pressure can be fed into or bled out of the space between the flexible container and the walls of the outer container.

4. A container for packaging and dispensing liquids substantially as nerein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 QUINVAN NOMINEES PTY LIMITED by their authorized agents, J. D. HARDIE & COMPANY 15 20 25 15