WO1999029591A1

WO1999029591A1 - Self-emptying container

Info

Publication number: WO1999029591A1
Application number: PCT/BE1998/000197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rudiger Cruysberghs
Original assignee: Rudiger Cruysberghs
Priority date: 1997-12-10
Filing date: 1998-12-08
Publication date: 1999-06-17
Also published as: EP1047616A1; ES2229554T3; AU1744399A; DE69826322D1; DE69826322T2; DK1047616T3; AU1744299A; WO1999029592A1; BE1011597A6; WO1999029591B1; EP1047616B1

Abstract

Self-emptying container (1) for liquids, viscous, pasta, powder or granular products as well as solid products, modifying form and or structure in case of temperature fluctuation. With as characteristic features that it consists of rigid material and contains at least one closed pressure chamber (2). At least one connector (4) on the said container (1), for emptying and possibly filling of this container, a closed pressure chamber (2) in contact with the said container, and at least a pressurising device for pressurising the said pressure chamber (2), to exert a pressure in the container (1) to empty the latter via de said connector (4) of the container. A control device on the connector (4), or valve on the said container, for emptying of this container with exact metering system, or doses.

Description

SELF-EMPTYING CONTAINER

The invention concerns a self-emptying recipient for liquids, viscous, pasta, powder or granular products, as well as solid products, modifying form and. or structure in case of temperature fluctuations. The recipient is emptied by means of the pressure exercised by a pressure medium.

The recipient as described in the invention definition, is extremely adequate for packaging and transporting said products, such as water, products based upon water, -dairy products, desserts, food and industrial oils, dressings, alcohol, fats, chocolate, drinks such as soft-drinks, juice and beer, syrups, gels, creams, inks, pigments, colours, paints, varnishes, glues, powders and others.

A well-known application is to pack these products in a recipient, which they are directly squeezed out of at the place of use, by means of an external medium such .as a pump, a vacuum, siphoning or pressure equipment. A disadvantage of this application is that by connecting said equipment to the packaging area of the recipient, the sterility and, or quality of the packed product is destroyed. Furthermore, the above said equipment needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, so as to prevent .any formation of bacteria.

In order to anticipate these disadvantages, according to the most important feature of the invention, a self- emptying recipient is realised in which the product is packed and which is made of rigid material, provided with at teast one connector for emptying and, if necessary, filling the recipient, and with at least one inflatable pressure chamber of flexible material being applied in said recipient, and at least one internal or external pressure medium being provided for pressurising and inflating said pressure chamber, in order to evacuate the product from the recipient through said recipient connector.

This way the product can be pushed out of, or removed, from the recipient through the applied connector or valve, without the product having to be in contact with the internal or external pressure medium and therefore, without the sterility and/or quality of the product being affected. Consequently, when the product is packed in a sterile way, the sterility will remain intact. A supplementary advantage is that the rigid recipient can easily be piled and, or, rolled over the ground.

By way of example, without any exhaustive character whatsoever, below you will find a detailed description of some possible application forms of the self-emptying recipient, according to the application. The description refers to the enclosed drawing, with:

Fig. 1 showing a recipient with a built-in pressure chamber constituting the bottom; Fig. 2 shows a r-ecipient with built-in pressure chamber; Fig. 3 shows a recipient with built-in harmonica pressure chamber; Fig. 4 shows a recipient with built-in balloon pressure chamber with pressure capsule;

Fig. 5 and 6 show a recipient with built-in balloon pressure chamber with connectors. Fig. 7 represents a self-emptying recipient with a control .device, on the connector, or valve on the said recipient, for emptying of the recipient with metering system (8), or doses. Fig. 1 shows that recipient 1, which can be made of cardboard, aluminium, a .synthetic, metal or any other rigid material, is provided with a bottom which is fixed in the recipient in any way whatsoever, and onto which a pressure chamber (2) is fixed, which is made of flexible anoVor dilatablematerial, for example made of one or .several layers of plastic and/or rubber foils, which material cannot damage the packed product. Pressure chamber (2) is provided with at least one connector (4) and/or at least one valve (3) which is connected at the place of use to a known pressure medium, such as a pump, a compressor, a water pipe, a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic compression spring. The pressure can -also be generated by means of a chemical reaction or gas formation, fluid gas, a liquid reaction or a stimulant under pressure. Controlling the pressure in pressure chamber (2), can be realised in this application form, by means of a control valve, or any other control device, which is connected to the connector, valve (3) or the external pressure medium. For the .above connection a quick connect coupling can be used. Recipient (1) is provided with a connector or valve (4), which can be opened automatically or manually, when the pressurised .and inflated pressure chamber (2) exerts a certain pressure upon the produα, so as to remove it from the recipient. The above connector can also be used for filling the recipient. When the recipient is filled with a solid product, the latter can be liquidated by means of temperature fluctuations, so as to be squeezed out of the recipient. Fig. 2 shows a fully closed recipient (1), provided with at least one connector, or valve (4) for emptying and, if necessary, filling the recipient where a pressure chamber (2), made of flexible and, or if necessary dilatable material, is fitted and the bottom of which is fixed onto the bottom of the recipient by means of any material whatsoever. The above fixing may be realised in any way whatsoever, for example by joining the pressure chamber with the recipient by means of welding, gluing, hot melting, folding, crimping or clamping. At least one connector or valve (3) on the one hand ends inside pressure chamber (2) and on the other hand outside recipient (1), so that an external pressure medium can be connected to said connector or valve.

Fig. 3 shows a recipient with at least one connector or valve (4); the recipient is provided with a harmonica pressure chamber (2), which for example is made of aluminium, tinplate, rubber, plastic or cardboard In this case, the lower free edge of pressure chamber (2) can be fixed into the lower circumferential edge of the recipient bottom. The hereby used connector, or valve (3) on the one hand ends inside pressure chamber (2) and on the other hand outside recipient (1), so that an external pressure medium can easily be connected to the connector of the pressure chamber.

Fig. 4 shows a recipient (1) with at least one connector or valve (4), where an inflatable balloon (5) of adequate material is provided, equipped with an internal pressure medium, for example a pressure capsule (6) with control valve (7), for pressurising and inflating balloon (5), so that the product found in recipient (1), is pushed out through the connector, or valve (4).

Fig. 5 shows that balloon (5) is fixed onto the bottom of the recipient by means of the connector, or valve (3), whereas the connector or valve (4) for releasing the product out of the recipient, is fixed in the upper part of the recipient casing. Fig. 6 In the application form as shown in Fig. 6 of the self-emptying recipient, balloon (5) is fixed at the inside of the recipient by means of a connector, or valve (3) for inflating the balloon, and the connector or valve (4) for emptying and, if necessary, filling the recipient is fixed in the lower part of the recipient. It goes without saying that the recipient may be made of any adequate rigid material and the pressure chamber may be made of any adequate flexible and, or dilatable material, and that the size and form thereof can also vary, according to the product with which the recipient is filled In addition, it is also obvious that connector (3) of pressure chamber (2) can be of any adequate kind, onto which a .quick connect coupling or a pressure regulator can be connected, and that connector (4) of recipient (1) can also be of any adequate kind onto which a filling and, or distribution nozzle can be connected.

Fig. 7 One notices that the selfemptying recipient has a -control device (8)on the connector,or valve. This device can function either manually, semi-automatic, automatic with motor, automatic with air cylinder, automatic with solenoid or any movement. Timer, potentiometer, PLC, PC or any other adjustable unit can do the control on the device.

It is self evident that the material used for the self-emptying recipient can be of any suitable type, that the •dimensions of the shape of the recipient can vary, that use can be made of any suitable pressurising device, and that the connectors and, or valves and regulating devises can be of any suitable type and can be located in any suitable place.

Claims

1. Self-emptying recipient for liquid, viscous, pasta, powder and granular products, as well as any solid products which may change form and, or structure, in case of temperature fluctuations, with the recipient (1) in which the product is packed, being made of rigid material and being provided with at least one recipient, and at least one inflatable pressure chamber (2) of dilatable material being applied in said recipient, and at least one pressure medium being provided for pressurising and inflating said pressure cliamber in order to squeeze the product that is packed in the recipient out of the recipient through said connector (4) of the recipient (1).

2. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure chamber (2) being provided with at least one connector (3) for the connection of an external pressure medium.

3. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with an internal pressure medium, such as a pressure capsule (6) is provided inside the pressure chamber (2).

4. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the bottom of the dilatable pressure chamber ( 2) constituting the bottom of the recipient (1) and being fixed herein.

5. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the recipient (1) being entirely closed and the dilatable pressure chamber (2) applied inside the recipient being fixed onto the bottom of the recipient.

6. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the side walls of the pressure chamt>er being made of flexible material and executed as a harmonica, of which the lower free circumferential edge is fixed into the bottom of the recipient and with the pressure cliamber being provided with a connector (3) that is applied into said bottom of the recipient.

7. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure chamber (2) constituting a freely attached balloon (5) with built-in pressure medium, inside the recipient.

8. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure chamber (2) being compos-ed of a balloon (5) that is applied inside the recipient (1) and attached onto the bottom thereof, with connector (3) passing through said bottom for the connection of an external pressure medium.

9. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure chamber (2) being made of a plastic foil.

10. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure cliamber (2) being made of rubber.

11. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure chamber (2) consisting of several laminates of a flexible material of equal or different kind.

12. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1. with the connector (4) of the recipient (1) being a valve.

13. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 2, with the connector (3) of the pressure chamber (2) constituting a control valve for controlling the pressure.

14. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with the pressure medium for pressurising the pressure chamber (2) making use of a liquid, compressed air, gas, a chemical product under pressure or a mechanical elastic element.

15. Seff-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 2, with the connector (3) of the pressure chamber (2) being -connected with a compressor, pump or water pipe by means of a quick connect coupling.

16. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 2, with the pressure chamber (2) containing an internal or external control device (7) for controlling the pressure in the pressure chamber (2).

17. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 2, with a filling nozzle being compatible with the connector (4) of the recipient (1).

18. Self-emptying recipient as described in conclusion 1, with a characteristic feature that it is possible to empty the recipient, with a control device (8) on the connector or valve (4) of the recipient, to control exactly the metered volume of the dose of the out coming product.