WO1991008960A1

WO1991008960A1 - Package container with distributing system especially for powdered or granulated products

Info

Publication number: WO1991008960A1
Application number: PCT/BR1990/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francisco Jorge Badin
Original assignee: Francisco Jorge Badin
Priority date: 1989-12-18
Filing date: 1990-12-06
Publication date: 1991-06-27
Also published as: AU7994691A; BR8906635A

Abstract

Any package container provided with an internal dosing-distributing-occluding apparatus (whether permanent or not) consisting of a whole, elongated, rounded cross-section, structural body or case (20) which is closed in its rear end; with one or more openings close to its front portion, connected to the container; containing an internally adjusted set (30) consisting of a piston (33), an emptied dosing compartment and closing shield (38) with a handle (40) to pull. The apparatus is operated by mechanically-manually ejecting the set for distributing and dosing the product, through the handle. This movement creates a pressure difference in the internal space (22) as compared with the external pressure that automatically makes the set return to its original position (retracting effect), simultaneously closing the package. Hermetic closing is obtained by means of the difference in pressure when applying constant force compressing the shield against the borders of the body. The apparatus may be re-used in refill-type containers, especially provided with a coupling unit, and may have adaptations suitable for dosing and distributing a larger quantity of the product, maintaining the same size of piston and parts related to it.

Description

PACKAGE CONTAINER WITH DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM

ESPECIALLY FOR POWDERED OR GRANULATED PRODUCTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to preclude the need for lids or similar devices for package containers such as cans, flasks, pots, or any other type of package container, provided the object of said lids is to close a large opening needed to remove part of the package container's contents (powders, grains, flakes, bran, etc.) manually by means of a spoon or other instrument, as is the case with packages of instant coffee, powdered chocolate, dehydrated milk, and others, in bulk or in small volumes.

This object is achieved by providing said package containers with a dosing-distributing-occluding apparatus which functions by means of a difference in pressure. As is the case with other containers that lack any means of distribution except that σf tearing the package, such as foil bags contained in cardboard boxes which, once opened, cannot be hermetically sealed against the degenerating components contained in the air (oxygen, humidity, other gases, microorganisms, etc.).

The pressure difference dosing-distributing-occluding system, exclusive to this invention, is made up basically of four components: the hermetic coupling unit (I) in any package container, to which is internally hermetically attached (permanently or not) a whole, elongated, rounded cross section structural body (case) (2) which in turn contains, internally, the dosing-distributing-occluding set, also whole, elongated, with rounded cross section (3), with a handle to pull (4).

The basic operating principle is the following: the body or case (2) on the inside of the package container furnishes the structure and the means for the set (3), with the handle (4), to distribute, by means of gravity and mechano-manual ejection, one or more doses of the packaged contents, returning automatically (by means of the difference in pressure) to its original position inside the body (2) while simultaneously hermetically closing the package container.

The greatest problem in the packaging and preservation of instant or dehydrated products, or of products based on these, whether powders, flakes, bran, or granulated, is their great tendency to attract air humidity (hygroscopic).

Air humidity, like other components of atmospheric air, is among the degenerating agents (in variable degrees) of the products mentioned. Therefore, means must be found that prevent, hamper, or limit to the minimum their possible contact within the internal space of the package, before and after these are opened by the consumer.

Various materials employed in the manufacturing of package container for the above-mentioned products (glass, tin, rigid plastic, multi-layer plastic, laminates, aluminum, varnish, sealers, and others) serve to partially solve the problem, with little or no permeability to the degenerating components of the outside air as long as the containers are hermetically sealed. However, once opened by the consumer, depending on the size of the opening, on the frequency of opening and on the length of time the container remains open, on the area of the product that is exposed to the air (directly proportional to the consumption validity and to the volume packaged), on incomplete or deficient closing, on the lack of a hermetic sealing device (seal or lid with powder adsorbed by hygroscopicity), on the introduction of a spoon or other non- aseptic instrument or damp instrument, there is an acceleration ( to a varying degree) of the process of product degeneration, with undesirable socio-economic and health/ nutrition consequences for the consumer as well as for the companies involved .

Therefore, it can be seen that the closing system and the distribution of the contents in the package container delimit the product's shelf life (once in use) due to its intrinsic characteristics. They also often bring about incorrect and deficient use by the consumer. Thus, any intervention in the package aimed at increasing the product's shelf life (in the consumption phase) must be primarily directed towards its closing and distribution system.

Such intervention would be aimed at optimization of the system by eliminating unnecessary components and space, correcting deficiencies, and solving problems found in the former technique.

The invention described herein sought to fulfill these conditions based on a synthetic analysis restricted to basic economic and operational factors related to the system.

- Economic factors:

Closing and distribution system made up of large diameter openings that come close to, or even with, the borders of pots, flasks, cans, etc., used in the former technique, implying the use of lids or covers and anti-tampering stamps or seals of the same respective diameter. These imply in associated and proportional production costs according to the size, design, components, and assembly of said covers and seals of varying complexity; production sector and packaging line, assembly and closing, specific and often different; process speed, stages required, varying mechanization and automation; specificity of the system for the various sizes and types of containers; low or zero atmospheric air permeability material (glass, tin, laminates, rigid plastic, aluminum, etc.).

- Operational factors:

A system's operation is a dynamic inter-relation of its components with the environment, and aims at achieving certain objectives which may be technical, esthetic, or of utility, and any others in which a relation can be established. It is therefore of a complex nature.

For the system described herein, the most obvious objectives of a technical and esthetic nature, as well as that of uti l ity wi l l be considered .

a) Technical

Closing and distribution systems used in former techniques present certain deficiencies such as: possibility of incomplete or non-hermetic closing by the consumer since, as it is a manual operation, closing demands pressure to push or screw on the lid or cover; difficulty in removing the lid or cover (with some instrument like a knife blade or the handle of a spoon in the case of cans ) due to the same reasons given above but with an opposite pressure; lack of specific means of distribution (such as a quantity control incorporated to the closing system), forcing the consumer to remove the product manually through the opening, by means of some household utensil (spoon, cup, etc.) which is often not adequately clean or totally dry; anti-tampering seal which makes it difficult to remove the desired quantity of the product, due to the partial limitation of the opening, since by keeping it partially open, the consumer manages better sealing of the product upon closing the package; amount of powder that remains between the seal and the cover, hygroscopically adsorbed, after opening in the case of cans.

b) Esthetic

The objectives of an esthetic nature depend directly on their limiting factors such as technological factors, materials, etc.

In relation to the former closing and distribution systems, the main limiting factor was the need of covers or lids and large diameter openings (respectively, as closing and distribution devices) imply in making these symmetrically and harmoniously compatible with the package body, often made of different materials, colors, and plastic flexibilities.

c) Utility

The optimization of an economic process to improve, simplify, or reduce the number of stages contributes to reduce production costs, improve technology, etc., which in turn benefit all the segments involved.

Thus, replacing covers or lids and respective openings with another closing and distribution system that has these advantages means greater practical and operational utility of the process and system. The same thing happens in relation to the stages that lead to end consumption by the adoption of a more efficient and practical means of dosing and distributing the product and, at the same time, closing the package.

Although the former technique presents no appropriate solution that fulfills the objectives of this invention, certain systems to distribute-dose powdered or granulated material with some particulars co-related to the present invention are known and are briefly described below:

Distributing apparatus for sweeteners in the form of a pen with a helical spring as a retracting device are presented in patent requests BR-MU 6401938 dated 11/28/84, and FR 2369182 dated 10/28/77. Drawer-type receptacles, foursquare or rectangular, with or without spring, are part of the dosing- distributing systems presented in patent request BR-PI81121 dated 06/23/55, and in Patent BR-MU 6.375 dated 12/18/61.

However, none of these fulfills the objectives of this invention, due mainly to the following aspects:

a) The angular geometric shape of the dosing-distributing device itself, and its case which prevents or hampers hermetic and efficient coupling in package containers such as flasks, pots, cans, etc. The same is true of closing.

b) Dosing-distributing system, using a spring to obtain the retracting effect which means additional costs in production, assembly, and adjustment of the spring so that it does not come loose, and to ensure proper closing of the system.

c) Decreasing pressure of the spring which is proportional to its use, with consequent failure in closing which limits prolonged use of the system as a whole and thus precluding its use with refills.

d) Need to use anti-rust protection or material for the spring which must comply with food packaging legislation standards. This also increases production costs. Other particulars of the former technique (as described below) can be better analyzed in comparison with the advantageous aspects of the invention described herein:

The object of this invention is clearly a simultaneous process of dosing and distribution of the contents of a package container (powdered, granulated, in flakes, bran, etc.), and closing it hermetically using the difference in pressure to obtain the simultaneous effect by means of one sole movement.

It is represented by a system made up basically of four components which, due to the geometric shape (predominantly non-angular) and the material (preferably plastic and elastic material), as well as their positioning in relation to one another, carry out the dosing and distribution of the product by gravity by ejecting (mechano-manually) the dosing- distributing-occluding set (3) by the handle (4) of its body or case (2) inside and coupled to the package. This displacement of the set (3) in relation to its original position, generates a difference in pressure inside between the body or case (2) that makes it return automatically to its original position (retracting effect), closing the package hermetically in an operation that is simultaneous with the other phases.

Therefore, it can be noted that the retractable effect is obtained by the difference between the internal (lower) pressure and the external (higher) pressure of the system, and not by means of a mechanical device (spring) as in the systems discussed in the former technique. This effect eliminates all disadvantages and inconveniences, and permits new technical uses. Another essential feature of this invention is the diversity in shape and material of the package container comprising a hermetic coupling unit close to the borders - it can be a reduced-diameter opening limited by the container itself or it can be hermetically connected to one or more elements - with its rear side totally or partially open in order to allow filling through this side and its respective seal that totally or partially replaces the use of the container bottom as in the former technique. Such feature provides material economy, faster filling line, and other advantages.

The coupling unit shape, size, and arrangement correspond to the body or case (2) in order to assure hermetic seal and correct positioning of the package container in coupling. A separate device can also perform this function.

For non-permanent coupling, the unit is provided with a device, preferably a destructible self-seal, that allows, once destroyed, the removal of the body and the respective set (3) (apparatus) from the package and avoids re-use of the package but not of the dosing-distributing-occluding apparatus in several types and sizes of containers with the respective coupling unit (intact) - use with refill.

There is also a self-seal at the opening end of the apparatus that connects the body or case (2) to the front part of set (3) in order to avoid package violation before consumer's use.

Based on this essential feature of the invention its main advantages may be pointed out when compared to the former technique:

- Coupling unit in the package with diameter several times smaller than that of openings required in former technique, thus reducing product air-exposure area whether in coupling or in using the dosing-distributing-occlusing apparatus for removal of the product.

- Replacement of lids or similar parts and large-diameter anti-tampering seals with a reduced-diameter seal or stamp above or below the coupling unit - in refill-type packages - allowing for lower production costs and consumer prices.

- In non-refill-type packages containing dosing- distributing-occluding apparatus - permanently coupled or not - the apparatus itself is hermetically closed when not in use due to the pressure difference that pushes the inside front borders of set (3) against the outside front borders of body or case (2) replacing lids or similar parts; it allows for easier and more efficient handling, that is, you need only pull the set (3) up to its limit and release, by the handle (4).

- Total or partial replacement of glass, plastic, and othe container bottom where you can use the hermetic closing system (former technique) by sealing with glue, induction or hea conduction, specially with the Foil Mate system - a state-of- the-art technology developed by Brockway Glass, United State - consisting of the adhesion of a laminate (aluminum and polymer) to a previously-treated opening of a glass containe by heat induction. In addition to other advantages, it provides a lower-cost closing of wide-opening glass containers, design flexibility, immediate detection of package violation, higher integrity level of the packaged product, longer shelf life, and so on.

The system shall be installed in the opposite end of the container allowing for a new technical effect in addition to advantages compared with the former system, that is, the product removal will no longer be made through seal violation but tnrough the dosing-distributing-occluding apparatus that eliminates the need of another lid to press the seal against the container border and reduces the cost of the end product.

- The pressure difference generated in the dosing- distributing-occluding apparatus provides a retractable effect of constant and lasting force regardless of its use. Such force can be increased or reduced by leaving more or less space volume between the body or case (2) and the set (3). It makes the apparatus adequate for use in refill-type packages.

- The predominantly non-angular shape of the system permits hermetic seal in coupling, closing, as well as in generating and in maintaining lower inside pressure.

- Package design flexibility thanks to little space occupied by the system's coupling unit (i), among other factors.

- Coupling unit close to container borders allows total removal of the product through the dosing-distributing- occluding apparatus.

- Indirect and fast contact of product and space inside the package with outside air through set (3) increases the useful life of the product - during consumption - and allows the package to be opened more frequently without reducing the product's useful life.

_ Use of emptied inside space of apparatus as a controlled- air, hygroscopic chamber or a vacuum chamber for better preservation of packaged product.

- Dosing compartment with a minimum of essential parts so as not to create corners and outdents that may retain the product and jeopardize system efficiency. - Adequate dosing compartment shape for different product granulometries in order to increase or reduce distribution speed and to control dosing.

- Retractable hand les or other that do not interfere with package stacking.

- Accurate dosing and distribution - simple or multiple - in one practical and efficient operation that precludes the use of non-specific means.

- Low costs and benefits provided by this invention recommend its use in both production and consumption systems; the small number of components helps improve, simplify, or reduce the phases in production, assembly, filling, and closing Bystems; versatility for use in different types and sizes of containers; re-use with refill; dosing-distributing- occluding apparatus made of low-cost material (preferably plastic and elastic material); total or partial replacement of container bottom with low-cost material, and so on.

Other implications of this invention will become apparent in non-restricted diagrammatic examples below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred option for this invention is shown in the following drawings:

Fig. 1A = Side view of dosing-distributing-occluding apparatus by pressure difference, open up to its front-action limit; the hatched line shows the inside arrangement of the dosing-distributing-occluding set and the dotted line shows the opposite side of the body or case.

Fig. 2A = Enlarged side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. IA in longitudinal section.

Fig. 1B = Upper view of a variation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1A showing adaptations to dose and distribute a larger quantity of the product and at the same time maintain the same size of the piston and its related parts.

Fig. 1C = Enlarged side view of some variations in dosing partition shape.

Fig. 2C = Front view of some variations in dosing partition shape.

Fig. 1D = Front view of some coupling units for apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B.

Fig. 1E = Front view of some handle variations for apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B.

Fig. 1F = Side view of some piston variations for apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B with inside detail shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2F = Side view of a piston variation in separate parts where a portion of elastic material is coupled to another.

Fig. 1G = Side view in longitudinal section of can with apparatus shown in Fig. 1A coupled, closed on its rear-action limit, and positioned for use; the sinuous line shows the filled product.

Fig. 2S = Front view of can shown in Fig. 1G with apparatus handle retracted.

Fig. 1H = Perspective view of a cardboard container and the coupled apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, provided with structural reinforcement.

Fig. 3A = Perspective view of apparatus shown in Fig. 1A disassembled.

Fig. 1I = Perspective view of a flask or pot with coupled apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B; the hatched line shows the container bottom. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1A and 2A show a preferred option for the dosing- distributing-occluding apparatus comprised of:

A structural, elongated, whole, and hollow (22) body or case (20) made of plastic or other smooth material; with a uniform rounded cross section (circular, as shown, or eliptical, etc.); with its tapering rear end (205) provided with a protuberance (24) with inside duct (21) for air release; the mid-portion ends in a lug-type retaining guide (23); all parts are connected to the front portion by means of a structural segment (201) with semicircular cut out borders (202); and this segment ends in a ring ( 26 ) with its closest border partially cut out in semicircle (203) and provided with a lug (25) and a dosing indicator (29). The ring ends in a salience (27) with rounded inside borders (28).

The body or case has an inside set (30) made of plastic or other smooth material, that is built as a whole piece consisting of an adjusted piston (33) with a tapered rear end (31), hermetically sealing by a salient end, band or lug (32); such end may be coated with some elastic material, such as teflon (Dupont trade name for tetrafluorethylene homopolymer plastic) or similar material; and its hollow inner space (34) is connected on its mid-portion (35) by a rod (36) with partitions (37) - also on the mid-portion -, to a shield (38), with a fitted band (50) made of elastic material, in the angle formed by the salient end (39) and convex (41) end of this shield, that also contains a handle (40).

The apparatus operates as follows: the disassembled apparatus shown in Fig. 3A is reassembled by inserting the set (30) and handle (40) in the body or case (20), up to its rear action limit; and the air in its inner space (22) is totally released through an opening or duct (21); this duct is thermally closed by protuberance (24). Another type of closing or a device enabling the inside air to be released and automatically preventing outside air from being admitted can also be used.

After the apparatus is assembled, it can be coupled close to container borders, as shown in Figs. 1G, 2G, 1H, and 1I, by a coupling unit (10), that can be a simple opening (10.3) with a matching internal shape in the body or case, with or without a ring (10.2) made of plastic or other smooth material, with a thread or a fitting part; or it can be a ring (10.1) extending internally from item (11) to (13) with a self-seal (12), that is broken after the apparatus is coupled - by fixed fitting -, and pulled by the salience (121), so as to permit its removal and re-use in another container (refill) with the same ring (10.1) intact (not destroyed), thus preventing inadequate reuse of the disposed package.

In the coupling unit or close to it, there is a device (not shown) that can be a salience or an indention, which serves as a guide for the correct position of the coupling, with matching shape, size, and arrangement in the body or case.

The apparatus has a thread or other similar coupling device, that can be a lug (25) - to be fitted to the coupling unit - in ring (26). Hermetic coupling is obtained by pressing the parts on the fitting, threading, etc., and can be aided by an elastic ring material.

Another coupling alternative (not shown) can be obtained preferably in plastic containers by wholly connecting the one- piece body or case to the container wall(molded in one single piece). In cardboard containers, as shown in Fig. 1H, the place of the coupling unit can be structurally reinforced with a sheet or an angle plate (60) preferably made of plastic.

The salient end (27) may be eliminated or reduced so as to enable the coupling to be closer to the container border thus permitting the distribution of the remainder of the product in the space available (51).

With the apparatus coupled to the container and closed as shown in Fig. 1G, it is used by means of one of the handles (40) shown in Fig. 1E: as a whole part of the shield (38) as shown in models (40.6), (40.2), (40.4), or as separate and retractable parts as shown in models (40.1), (40.3), and connected by a wire (42) as shown in model .40.5). or other model, according to the ergonomic nature and the strength required to pull the set (30).

Once it has been manually pulled by the handle the set is mechanically ejected, and such movement creates a pressure in the inside space (chamber) (22) lower than the outside pressure because of the existing vacuum. Said pressure maintains a constant force upon ejection up to its front- action limit - where piston (33) is retained by retaining guide (23) -, and automatically returns the set to its original position when the handle is released.

The piston presses the inside surface (22) laterally by a lug (32.1) with a ring end (301), by means of bands with hollow inner space (302) such as those whole pieces shown in types (32.2), (32.3), coupled to the piston wall or of elastic material (32.4), which can be separated one from the other;or be in single elastic part (300), coupled td the remainder of the piston, as shown in Fig. 2F, or directly coupled to rod (36). The ring (301) provides the lug with better seal; this also holds true for the hollow inside spaces (302) of the hands, in cases of not very flexible materials such as some plastic materials, etc.

The piston, which should be preferably hollow, has a double function in certain packages: its inside space (34) can be used as a control led-air, hygroscopic chamber or as a vacuum chamber, where capsules or other internal device release gases to the inside of the container by selective permeability openings around their mid-portion (35), however preventing the admission of the filled product in this chamber; these capsules remove air humidity from the head-space (that is, the space between the content and the container wall) by hygroscopicity (silica-gel, etc.), or by forming internal vacuum. The same is true if the shield (38) is hollow.

The retaining guide, whose functions are to retain the piston, guide its travel, and prevent the penetration of the filled product inside (22), may have the shape of a lug (23) as a whole piece or as multiple parts, with opposing or coincidental positions for improved fitting and retention. The retaining guide can also be placed deeper inside (22), and the piston can be shortened in order to reduce its inside space (34) or adjust the opening of the apparatus.

Product distribution and dosing are done through a compartment which can have laminar partitions (37), as shown in Figs. 1C and 2C, with variable shapes, sizes, arrangements, numbers, and combinations in relation to the rod that allow different dosings, increase or reduce product distribution speed, and the dosing and distribution of different granulated products, such as tablets, pills, etc., as shown in Fig. 2C.. All this is done with a minimum of angled parts, thus preventing the accumulation of products in the corners and adsortion by hygroscopic!ty. Depending on the material manufactured, the use of another rod in different positions can be required to structurally reinforce the set (30); such rod can also have variable lengths to obtain higher or lower pressure when closing the apparatus by the shield.

The shield can be a whole piece coupled to the rod, as shown in (38), either partially or totally made of elastic material, in separate and coupled parts. The elastic material such as band (50) provides better sealing for hermetic closing.

The closing is carried out by the force of the constant and permanent difference in pressure, that presses the shield against the body or case borders, thus eliminating the need for threads or pressure fittings.

A self-seal on the shield or on the coupling unit (of refill packages) can be used to prevent package violation before consumer use; internal, external or other types of seal 5 can also be used.

One or more internal devices are used to show, by contact, the passage of the product through the partitions and, accordingly, the number of doses, as shown in salience (29).

The front of the body or case can be connected to its rear by one or more segments, preferably one single structural segment (201), which can have curved cut-out borders (202), to minimize the blocking effect of this segment when the product passes to the dosing compartment, and to structurally reinforce the body or case. Ring (26) is also partially (203) cut out in its lower portion (in relation to the use position) to improve product passage.

The tapered rear end of the body or case (205) enables improved introduction of the apparatus in filled containers. For angle-shaped containers (rectangular, foursquare or other shapes), the apparatus can be customized to have a suitable transversal shape (for improved product distribution); in such case, however, the unit shall not be angled but shall have rounded borders for improved piston sealing and sliding, and to provide hermetic closing and coupling.

A variation of the apparatus of Fig. 1A is shown in Fig. 1B where segment (201), ring (26), lug (25), salient end (27), rod (36), partitions (37), shield (38), band (50), and handle (40) are proportionally enlarged so as to increase product dosing and distribution. A structural reinforcement is used in the connection between the two parts of the body - in different sizes - and such reinforcement may be external (204), as shown, or of other type. Another purpose of this adaptation is to prevent the need for increasing other apparatus parts, more specifically the piston, because it would also mean an increase in the force required to pull the set by the handle, thus making its use both by children and adults much more difficult.

The hatched lines of Fig. 1I show the bottom (61) of a container (of any type) to be substituted in the hermetic closing system with sealing, more specifically, with the already mentioned FOIL MATE system.

The transversal-circular-shaped apparatus has a unique advantage in relation to other possible shapes, since the set (30) can be spun around itself and can be used more easily.

The constant counter-force provided by the pressure difference when pulling the set by the handle avoids too quick and uncontrolled distribution of the product.

A lubricant (compatible with the filled product) can be used to reduce the friction of the piston in its work chamber, thus improving piston sealing.

In addition, an alternative shield can be used with two opening stages (not shown) where a flip-top lid over the shield can be opened independently from apparatus opening so as to enable continuous product distribution without dosing.

Claims

- C L A I M S -

1 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products which doses, distributes and closes the package simultaneously and is characterized by the following steps:

- to be any package container, provided that it is internally equipped whether permanently or not with the dosing- distributing-occluding apparatus based on pressure difference; made up of a structural, elongated body or case of rounded cross-section, closed in its rear end internal to the container, with one or more openings close to its front portion, joined to the container; internally containing an adjusted set made up of a piston (rear part), an emptied dosing compartment and a closing shield with a handle for pulling (front part);

- manual-mechanical sliding of the piston, hermetically fitted and other parts joined, by the inner surface of the body until it is retained, generating an internal pressure lower than the external pressure;

- retracting effect of the set obtained by means of the difference between the internal and the external pressure;

- closing up and maintaining this closing up by means of the constant and permanent force of the pressure differential;

- a constant counter-force, provided by the pressure differential as the set is pulled by the handle, avoiding too quick a distribution of the product;

- adjustment of the closing pressure of the apparatus by varying the length of the parts of the set;

- adjustment of the pressure differential measure by increasing or reducing the inner space of the work chamber of the piston;

- apparatus separate from a refill-type container, with a coupling unit close to its borders, this unit presenting a self-seal or another device which once destroyed permits the removal of the apparatus to be re-used (coupled to another container) whilst preventing the re-use of the disposed container; further presenting one or more saliences or indentations or any other means, close or on the coupling unit, for the purpose of indicating the correct coupling position, with the corresponding shape, size and disposition on the body of the apparatus.

- adaptations on the apparatus, to dose and distribute a larger quantity of the product, maintaining the size of the piston and its related parts constant.

2 - Package Container with Distributing System, Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that said adaptations are a structural reinforcement, a proportional increase in the size of all parts related to dosing and distribution, as well as coupling, closing and opening.

3 - Package Container with Distributing System, Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents a structural reinforcement for the coupling and use of the apparatus in containers of little resistant material.

4 - Package Container with Distributing System, Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 3, characterized by the fact that one side of the container is totally or partially replaced by the sealing hermetic closing system (former technique) with the removal of the product no longer by breaking the seal but by means of the apparatus.

5 - Package Container with Distributive System, Especially for

Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents a valve or another device on the body or case, for the purpose of permitting the release of air of its inner space and preventing air from entering, in order to obtain constant vacuum in the work chamber of the piston.

6 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 5, characterized by the fact that the other device is a protuberance having an inside duct to be thermally closed after the inside air is released.

7 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises of a retaining guide on its body or case with the purpose of stopping the piston movement and simultaneously guiding its travel.

8 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents the adjusted piston with hermetic sealing which is obtained by means of one or more lug-type saliences, ending as a whole ring as part of the piston wall.

9 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents the adjusted piston with hermetic sealing which is obtained by means of one or more bands with hollow inner space. 10 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, chaaracterized by the fact that it presents the internally emptied piston or shield, as a controlled-air, hygroscopic or vacuum chambers, with selective permeability openings.

11 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents one single opening on the body or case, close to its front portion, and this opening is limited by a structural segment with. curved cut out borders and this cut out partially extending by its front portion.

12 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents a lug-type salience close to the end of the front portion for coupling the apparatus on the container.

13 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents the dosing compartment with laminar partitions connected by one or more rods, and such partitions having variable shapes, arrangements, numbers, and combinations.

14 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 13; characterized by the fact that said partition shapes are cut out on the borders or emptied, so as to enable the dosing and distributing of several types of granulated products.

15 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents a dosing indicator activated by contact with the dosing compartment partitions.

16 - Package Container Hith Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents a retractable handle or connected by a wire or as a one-piece to the shield or in such a manner as not to interfere with package stacking.

17 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents the body or case having a tapered rear end so as to enable easy introduction of the apparatus in filled containers.

18 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it presents the shield with a self-seal so as to prevent package violation.

19 - Package Container with Distributing System Especially for Powdered or Granulated Products, as claimed in 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises of a two-opening- stage shield, where a flip-top-type lid over the shield, enables the product to be distributed without being dosed.