RU2800805C1 - Flexible packaging outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to structural elements of flexible packaging for viscous liquids, pasty and bulk products. The body of the outlet device is formed from a thermoplastic polymer by injection moulding and contains an outlet pipe attached to the pipe from below, an intermediate block with functional levers and stiffeners built into its walls, and a flange in the form of an open hollow box-shaped channel for fastening to the bag walls. Under an external compressive force, the levers and ribs deform the flange from a box-shaped shape into a flat one to simplify the process of fastening to the bag walls, after which they return it to its original shape, giving the packaging walls vertical stability for possible placement with the neck upside down on a horizontal plane.

EFFECT: possibility of giving the walls of an elastic package vertical stability, while simultaneously ensuring a hermetic connection of the outlet pipe to the walls of an empty bag or bag filled with contents, using heaters of a simple geometric shape and a minimum number of heat sealing operations.

10 cl, 37 dwg

Description

The invention relates to structural elements of flexible packaging for viscous liquids, pasty and bulk products.

Known technical solution patent EP0773893 B1. The disadvantages of the design are the high consumption of polymer in the manufacture of an outlet pipe with a wide passage channel and the inability to place the filled bag vertically with the neck down on a horizontal plane.

Known technical solution patent US8844767B1 setting the filled bag down the neck on a horizontal plane. The disadvantages of the design are that the outlet is mounted only on an empty bag, and the packaging manufacturing process consists of several sequential thermal operations that increase the cost.

The technical problem to be solved by the claimed invention is to create an outlet device for an elastic bag that makes it stable when placed vertically upside down on a horizontal plane - to constantly concentrate the remainder of the package contents in the bag volume adjacent to the outlet neck.

The technical result consists in expanding the functionality of the outlet device of the elastic packaging, namely: making the walls of the elastic packaging vertically stable, at the same time ensuring hermetic connection of the outlet pipe to the walls of an empty or filled bag, using heaters of a simple geometric shape and a minimum number of heat sealing operations.

The specified technical result is achieved due to the fact that an outlet device in the form of a hollow channel containing an outlet pipe, a hollow thin-walled intermediate block and a flange for fastening the outlet device to the bag walls is formed from a thermoplastic polymer by injection molding.

At the junction of the outlet branch pipe with the intermediate block, a neck section with thickening of the walls is formed. The thickening of the walls of the neck section can be formed protruding into the channel of the outlet pipe and the intermediate block.

The thickening of the walls of the neck portion may be formed by the outwardly protruding outlet pipe and the intermediate block.

The intermediate block is made of a thermoplastic polymer and has the shape of an open thin-walled funnel with hermetic walls, with its narrow edge facing the neck area, and the wide edge facing the flange. At least two opposite comb-shaped stiffening ribs and at least two functional levers are mounted in the walls of the intermediate block. The interaction of the ribs and functional levers gives the intermediate block and flange the ability to return to their original shape after deformation.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block and the functional arms may be formed to protrude above the outer surface of the intermediate block.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block and the functional levers may be formed protruding into the channel of the intermediate block.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block and the functional levers can be formed protruding simultaneously above the outer surface of the intermediate block and inside the channel of the intermediate block.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block and the functional levers are mounted with their upper ends in the thickening of the walls of the neck section.

One comb-shaped longitudinal reinforcement can be mounted in each stiffening rib of the intermediate block, forming a T-shaped cross-section of the rib.

Two comb-shaped longitudinal reinforcements can be mounted in each stiffening rib of the intermediate block, forming a U-shaped cross section of the rib

Three comb-shaped longitudinal reinforcements can be mounted in each stiffening rib of the intermediate block, forming a W-shaped cross-section of the rib

Ribs protruding beyond the outer surface of the intermediate block and forming a support for the fingers of the user's hand in the manipulation of unscrewing the cap of the outlet pipe can be mounted in the stiffening ribs of the intermediate block.

The profile of the stiffening ribs of the intermediate block may be arcuate.

The profile of the stiffening ribs of the intermediate block can be straight.

On the outer surface of the intermediate block, protrusions may be formed for the fingers of the user's hand in manipulation to expand the outlet passage.

The functional levers in the walls of the intermediate block transmit the expanding force to the flange to return it to its original shape after the end of the deformation and attach the bag walls to it.

On the outer surface of the intermediate block, comb-shaped supports can be formed for the compressive grips of the flange retention and deformation mechanism before the operation of thermal connection with the bag walls.

The flange has a box-shaped hollow body, consisting of at least four flat rectangular plates with two protruding flat shields in opposite ribs. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block are mounted with their lower ends into the nearest flat flange shields.

The proposed technical solution provides for two options for the cross-sectional shape of the hollow box-shaped channel of the flange.

Option 1: cross-section of a box channel rhombus.

Option 2: Parallelogram box channel cross section.

According to the claimed technical solution, two versions of the walls of the hollow box-shaped channel of the flange are proposed.

Option "a" - in the form of a hollow prism.

Option "b" - in the form of a hollow truncated pyramid.

A hollow truncated pyramid flange is offered to simplify the process of removing the punch after injection molding is completed.

The intermediate block in the lower part has a channel section that repeats the upper section of the flange - a parallelogram or a rhombus.

The upper section of the intermediate block may have a geometric shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the outlet pipe.

The plates forming the walls of the flange (option 1-a) have a rectangular shape, the same length, and the same width.

The flange walls (option 2-a) are formed from rectangular plates of equal width, and the length of the opposite plates is the same in pairs.

The flange wall plates (option b) are in the form of flat quadrangular plates of the same width.

The length of the quadrangular plates in the flange walls (option 1-b) is the same.

The length of the quadrangular plates in the opposite walls of the flange (option 2-b) is the same.

From two opposite ribs located in the sharp corners of the hollow body of the flange, two opposite flat shields protrude outward. In this case, the outer surface of the flange, together with the outer surface of the shields, forms the sealing surface of the flange.

The dimensions of the angles between the sides in the quadrangular plates forming the flange walls (option 2-b) have different meanings.

At the place where the plates are attached to the flat shields of the flange (option 2-b), the angles facing towards the outlet pipe are greater than 90 degrees, and the angles facing the opposite direction from the outlet pipe are less than 90 degrees. The other two angles between the sides of each plate of the flange body (option 2-b) are 90 degrees, the sum of the values of the angles between the sides in each of the quadrangular plates is 360 degrees.

In the plates forming the flange walls, groove-like recesses are made to ensure the deformation of the flange walls from a three-dimensional to a flattened shape.

Trough-like recesses can be made on the outer surface of the plates forming the flange walls.

Trough-like recesses can be made on the inner surface of the plates forming the flange walls.

The length of the groove-like recesses is equal to the geometric length of the faces of the prism (pyramid) of the flange body in the places of their mutual adjacency at an obtuse or acute angle.

On the outer surface of the flange walls along the perimeter of the upper section at the junction with the walls of the intermediate block there are at least two opposite comb-like limiter ribs protruding outward, located across the longitudinal axis of the branch pipe outlet channel. Limiting ribs ensure that the flat shape of the flange walls is maintained at the moment of deformation from a hollow form to a flattened form and limit the depth of the flange body placement between the bag walls in the process of heat sealing with them.

On the outer surface of the flange walls and the surface of the protruding flat shields, ribs are formed during injection molding, having a low profile and a triangular cross section with a rounded top, forming flat open niches with closed outlines. Low-profile ribs protrude above the plane of the outer surface of the flange walls to the same height, and on the surface of the shields, the height of the low-profile ribs gradually decreases to zero.

The shape of the low profile ribs may be straight.

The shape of the low profile ribs may be arcuate.

The shape of the low profile ribs may be curved.

Low-profile ribs intersect the sections of the flange walls where the groove-like recesses are made, at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the groove-like recess.

To reduce tensile forces in the walls during flange deformation, low-profile ribs can intersect sections of the flange walls where groove-like recesses are made at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the groove-like recess.

The free edges of the low profile ribs form a honeycomb surface onto which the elastic bag walls are thermally attached.

The flange walls can have a thickness of 0.2 to 5 millimeters.

On the inner surface of the flange walls, in order to prevent sticking, a low-profile ribbed notch can be formed to disperse heat and load during deformation and mutual contact of the flange walls during heat sealing with the bag walls. The low-profile notch of the opposite walls, when the flange is deformed into a flattened shape, touches and overlaps one another in a cross-transverse order.

On the inner surface of the flange walls (option 2) with trough-like recesses on the inside of the passage channel, at least two support ridges are made, mounted in the flange walls opposite the trough-shaped recesses to prevent deflection of the flange walls during compression and connection with the bag walls by heating.

The process of mounting the flange of the outlet pipe on the walls of the elastic bag is carried out after preliminary compression of the walls of the intermediate block by the retaining device. The compression force through the functional levers built into the walls of the intermediate block deforms the flange from a box-shaped into a flat shape with a slit-like space between the walls.

Mounting of the outlet flange can be done on a filled or empty elastic bag. The connection with the walls of the bag is made by one technological process of thermal welding. During the process of thermal welding, the walls of the bag are pressed against the outer surface of the flange with simultaneous heating of the place of their mutual contact. During the heating process, partial melting of the protruding edges of the low-profile ribs on the outer surface of the flange and flat shields occurs. The bag walls, pressed against the melted edges of thin-walled low-profile ribs, are welded to the outer surface of the flange and shields. The opposite walls of the flange, being in a compressed deformed state, mutually lean against each other, forming a solid support for the heating elements during welding.

After the end of the welding process, the compressive force on the walls of the intermediate block is removed. At the same time, the system of ribs and functional levers of the intermediate block returns the intermediate block and flange to its original shape, restoring the internal channel for passing the contents of the package to the outlet. The walls of the flange with the walls of the bag attached to them form a spatial container with a predominantly diamond-shaped cross section. The internal box-shaped channel of the flange of the intermediate block and the mouth of the outlet pipe form the necessary volume for the concentration of the remainder of the contents of the package in the area adjacent to the outlet.

The walls of the bag, after thermowelding with the flange and returning the original geometric shape of the flange, repeat its outlines, forming an expanded section of the bag for the contents. The rest of the contents of the package under the action of gravity flows into the cavity of the bag adjacent to the flange, into the box-shaped channel inside the flange, into the funnel-shaped channel of the intermediate block and to the outlet, ensuring a constant low position of the center of gravity of the bag and a stable vertical position with the mouth down on a horizontal surface. The outlet plug forms a flat contact area with a horizontal surface, providing a stable vertical positioning of the filled bag.

The displacement of the contents of the package is carried out by compressing the walls of the bag. In the final stage of expelling the contents, the flange and intermediate block of the outlet are compressed into a flattened shape. Thanks to the possibility of compressing the flange and the intermediate block, the entire contents of the package are expelled without residue.

The claimed invention is illustrated by the following drawings, which illustrate some, but not all, of the possible embodiments of the invention.

Fig. Fig. 1. General view of the exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with removed (conditionally) thin-walled sections, axonometric projection.

Fig. Fig. 2. Exhaust device before deformation (option 1-a), front view.

Fig. 3. Section A-A.

Fig. 4. Section B-B.

Fig. 5. Section B-B.

Fig. 6. Section G-G.

Fig. Fig. 7. Exhaust device after deformation (option 1-a), axonometric projection, side view.

Fig. Fig. 8. Exhaust device after deformation (option 1-a), axonometric projection, bottom view.

Fig. Fig. 9. Exhaust device after deformation (option 1-a), axonometric projection, top view.

Fig. Fig. 10. Exhaust device after deformation (option 1-a), axonometric projection, side view.

Fig. 11. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b), front view.

Fig. 12. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b), bottom view.

Fig. 13. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b), axonometric projection, bottom view.

Fig. 14. Section D-D.

Fig. 15. Section E-E.

Fig. 16. Section Zh-Zh.

Fig. 17. Section 3-3.

Fig. 18. Section II.

Fig. 19. Section K-K.

Fig. Fig. 20. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), axonometric view, front view from below.

Fig. 21. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b) view) axonometric projection side view from below.

Fig. Fig. 22. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), axonometric view, top view.

Fig. Fig. 23. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), axonometric projection side view.

Fig. 24. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), top view.

Fig. 25. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), front view.

Fig. 26. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), side view.

Fig. 27. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), bottom view.

Fig. 28. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b), axonometric projection, top view.

Fig. Fig. 29. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with removed (conditionally) thin-walled sections, axonometric projection, top view.

Fig. Fig. 30. Exhaust device before deformation (option 1-b) with external groove-like recesses and a hinged lid, axonometric projection, front view.

Fig. Fig. 31. Outlet device before deformation (option 1-b) with external groove-like recesses and a hinged lid, axonometric projection, top side view.

Fig. Fig. 32. Exhaust device before deformation (option 1-b) with external groove-like recesses and a hinged lid, axonometric projection, top view.

Fig. Fig. 33. Exhaust device before deformation (option 1-b) with external groove-like recesses and a hinged lid, axonometric projection, bottom view.

Fig.34. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with stiffening ribs and functional levers protruding outside and inside the channel front view.

Fig. 35. Section L-L.

Fig. Fig. 36. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with stiffeners and functional levers protruding outside and inside the channel, axonometric projection, side view from below.

Fig. Fig. 37. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with stiffeners and functional levers protruding outside and inside the channel, axonometric projection, bottom view.

The claimed invention is illustrated by the following three-dimensional models, which illustrate some, but not all, of the possible embodiments of the invention.

1. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with removed (conditionally) thin-walled sections.

2. Exhaust device before deformation (option 1-a).

3. Exhaust device after deformation (option 1-a).

4. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b).

5. Intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b).

6. Section of the intermediate block, flange after deformation (option 2-b).

7. Outlet before deformation (option 1-b) with external groove-like recesses on the flange body and a hinged lid.

8. Exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with stiffeners and functional levers protruding outside and inside the channel.

Fig. 9. Section of the exhaust device before deformation (option 2-b) with stiffeners and functional levers protruding outside and inside the channel.

Some, but not all, possible embodiments of the invention are described below.

The outlet device of the elastic packaging consists of a branch pipe for discharging the contents 1, a neck section 1a, 1b, 1c, attached to the section below the hollow intermediate block 2 in the form of a funnel-shaped channel, and attached from below to the intermediate block of the box-shaped flange 3. A thickening is formed in the neck section of the outlet device. walls 1a, 1b, 1c. The thickening of the walls can be made outside the pipe 1a, or inside the channel of the outlet pipe 1b, or both outside and inside the channel of the outlet pipe 1c. On the outer surface of the outlet pipe, helical ribs may be formed for screwing on the cap. The release device of the flexible packaging can be made with a 1g hinged lid for easy closing of the outlet. The end surface of the hinged lid is used as a support surface when the elastic packaging is placed vertically with the mouth down on a horizontal plane.

Two opposite comb-shaped stiffeners are mounted in the walls of the intermediate block in three versions: 4a, 4b, 4c. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block may protrude above the outer surface of the intermediate block 4a. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block may protrude into the channel of the intermediate block 4b. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block can also protrude above the outer surface of the intermediate block and inside its channel 4c.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block 4a, with their upper ends, are mounted in the thickening of the walls of the neck section 1a above the outer surface of the intermediate block 5a. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block 4b with their upper ends are mounted in the thickening of the walls of the neck section 1b inside the channel for passing the contents of the package in the intermediate block 5b. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block 4c can be mounted in the neck section 1c, protruding simultaneously above the outer surface of the walls of the intermediate block and inside its channel 5c.

The stiffening ribs 4a, 4b, 4c of the intermediate block may contain comb-shaped longitudinal amplifiers 6.

The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block 4a, 4b, 4c may include ridges protruding beyond the outer surface of the intermediate block 7 to support the fingers of the user's hand in the manipulation of unscrewing the cap of the outlet.

At least two comb-shaped functional levers are mounted in the walls of the intermediate block, which have three versions: 8a, 8b, 8c. The comb-shaped functional levers of the intermediate block may protrude above the outer surface of the intermediate block 8a. Comb-like functional levers of the intermediate block can protrude into the channel of the intermediate block 8b. Comb-shaped functional levers of the intermediate block can also be formed simultaneously protruding above the outer surface and inside the channel of the intermediate block 8c.

The functional levers of the intermediate block 8a with their upper ends are mounted in the thickening of the walls of the neck section 1a above the outer surface of the intermediate block 9a. The functional levers of the intermediate block 8b can be mounted with their upper ends into the thickening of the walls of the neck section 1b inside the channel for passing the contents of the package in the intermediate block 9b. The functional levers of the intermediate block 8c can be mounted with their upper ends in the thickening of the walls of the neck section 1c, simultaneously protruding above the outer surface of the walls of the intermediate block and inside the channel 9c.

On the outer surface of the intermediate block, supports can be made for 10 fingers of the user's hands in manipulation to expand the outlet channel.

Comb-shaped supports 11 can be formed on the outer surface of the intermediate block for the compressive grips of the mechanism for holding and deforming the flange before the operation of thermal connection with the bag walls.

The flange 3 has a box-shaped hollow body, consisting of at least four flat rectangular plates with two protruding flat shields 12 in opposite ribs. The stiffening ribs of the intermediate block 4a, 4b, 4c with their lower ends are mounted in the nearest flat shields of the flange 12a.

Plates 13 forming the walls of the flange (option 1-a) have a rectangular shape, the same length and the same width.

Flat plates 14 of the flange walls (option a) have a quadrangular shape of the same width. The dimensions of the angles between the sides in the quadrangular plates forming the flange walls (option b) have different meanings. Angles 15 between the sides of the plates of 90 degrees each are formed at the junction of the plates, forming the ribs of the flange 12b without flat shields. At the joints of the plates forming the ribs of the flange with flat shields 12, the dimensions of the angles 16 facing the outlet of the branch pipe are greater than 90 degrees, and the angles 17 facing in the opposite direction from the outlet pipe are less than 90 degrees.

On the outer surface of the plates 13, 14, forming the flange walls, along the ribs of the flange body, groove-like recesses 18a are made to ensure the deformation of the flange walls from a three-dimensional to a flattened shape. Trough-like recesses 18b can be made on the inner surface of the plates 13, 14 along the ribs of the flange housing, inside the box-shaped channel.

On the outer surface of the walls of the flange 13, 14, along the perimeter of the upper section, at least two 19 opposite comb-like limiter ribs are made.

The functional levers of the intermediate block 8a, 8b, 8c do not come into contact with the walls 13, 14 of the flange.

On the outer surface of the walls of the flange 13, 14 and the surface of the protruding flat shields 12, ribs having a low profile and a triangular cross section are formed by injection molding, forming flat open niches 21 with closed outlines. Low profile fins can be made straight 20a.

The low profile ribs may have an arcuate 20b shape. The low profile ribs may also have a curved 20b shape.

On the surface of the shields 12, the height of the low-profile ribs 20a, 20b, 20c gradually decreases relative to the plane of the shields, close to zero value 22.

Low-profile ribs cross sections of the flange walls where the groove-like recesses 18a, 18b are made at a right angle 23 relative to the longitudinal axis of the groove-like recess. Also, low-profile ribs to reduce tensile forces in the walls when the flange is deformed can cross sections of the flange walls where the groove-like recesses 18a, 18b are made at an angle of less than 90 degrees 24 relative to the longitudinal axis of the groove-like recess.

On the inner surface of the walls of the flange 13, 14, a low-profile ribbed notch 25 can be formed to evenly disperse heat and load during thermal bonding with the bag walls.

On the inner surface of the walls 14 of the flange, according to the variant with groove-like recesses 18b, there are at least two support ridges 26 built into the walls of the flange 14 to prevent deflection of the flange walls during connection with the bag walls by heating.

The upper ends of the support ridges 26 end without touching 27 with the lower ends of the functional levers 8a, 8b, 8c of the intermediate block at a distance of 1 to 5 millimeters from them.

Claims (10)

1. An outlet device for an elastic thin-walled bag, formed from a thermoplastic polymer by injection molding, containing an outlet pipe and a flange for attaching to the walls of the bag, characterized in that the outlet pipe at the bottom contains a neck section with a thickening of the walls and an intermediate block attached to the bottom of the neck section in the form of an open hollow funnel-shaped channel, and at least two comb-shaped stiffening ribs and at least two comb-shaped functional levers are mounted in the walls of the intermediate block, the upper ends of which are mounted in the mouth section of the outlet device, and a box flange attached to the bottom of the intermediate block, the body of which consists of at least four flat plates connected in the form of an open hollow box-shaped channel with protruding flat shields of two opposite ribs, and at least two opposite comb-shaped ribs are formed along the outer upper perimeter of the flange body, located across the longitudinal axis of the nozzle outlet channel, and at least two groove-like recesses are made in the flange walls along the housing ribs. 2. The outlet device according to claim. 1, characterized in that the cross section of the box-shaped channel of the flange housing has the shape of a diamond. 3. The outlet device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the box-shaped channel of the flange housing has the shape of a parallelogram. 4. The outlet device according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the box-shaped flange body are interconnected, forming a hollow open prism. 5. The outlet device according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the box-shaped body of the flange are interconnected, forming a hollow open truncated pyramid. 6. The exhaust device according to claim 1, characterized in that low-profile ribs are formed on the outer surface of the flange walls and shields, protruding above the plane of the flange walls and shields, forming flat open niches with closed outlines. 7. The outlet device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the flange walls in the space of the outlet channel has a low-profile ribbed notch in the form of a comb surface. 8. Outlet device according to claim. 3 with groove-like recesses made on the inner surface of the flange walls, characterized in that at least two support ridges protruding into the channel are formed inside the space of the outlet channel. 9. The exhaust device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower ends of the functional levers of the intermediate block are not connected to the walls of the flange housing. 10. The exhaust device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower free ends of the functional levers of the intermediate block are not connected to the support ridges.