WO1999029592A1

WO1999029592A1 - Self-emptying packaging

Info

Publication number: WO1999029592A1
Application number: PCT/BE1998/000198
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: AU1744399A; DE69826322D1; AU1744299A; WO1999029591B1; EP1047616B1; DE69826322T2; BE1011597A6; WO1999029591A1; DK1047616T3; EP1047616A1; ES2229554T3

Abstract

Self-emptying packaging for fluid, paste-alike and powdery products, with as characteristic feature that it consists of flexible material and contains at least one closed product chamber (1) in which the fluid, viscous, paste-alike or powdery product is packed, a connector (5) provided on the said product chamber (1) for emptying and possibly filling of this chamber, a closed pressure chamber (3) in contact with the said product chamber (1), and at least a pressurizing device for pressurizing the said pressure chamber (3) to exert a pressure on the product chamber (1) to empty the latter via the said connector (5) of the product chamber. A control device on the connector (5), or valve on the said product chamber (1), for emptying of this product chamber (1) with exact metering system, or doses.

Description

SELF-EMPTYING PACKAGING

The invention concerns a self-emptying packaging for fluids, viscous, paste-like and powdery products, which packaging is emptied by a constant pressure exerted by a pressurizing device.

The packaging is eminently suitable for packaging and transporting of the said products, such as water, water-based products, dairy products, deserts, edible and industrial oils, dressings, alcohol, drinks, syrups, gels, creams, inks, pigments, coloring agents, paints, varnishes, adhesives, powders and other products.

The known system is to pack these products in a packaging from which the are pushed out directly at the place of use by means of an external device such as a pump, vacuum, siphoning or pressure apparatus. A disadvantage of this is that the connection of the said devices onto the packaging space of the packaging is detrimental to the sterility and/or the quality of the packaged products- Furthermore, the said devices must be cleaned regularly to prevent bacterial growth.

To overcome these disadvantages, a self-emptying packaging has been realized, according to the main characteristic of the invention, which consist mainly of flexible material and which contains at least one closed product chamber in which the fluid, viscous, paste-like and powdery product has been packaged, a connector or valve provided on the said product chamber for emptying and possibly filling of this chamber, a closed pressure chamber in contact with the said product chamber, and at least a pressurizing device for pressurizing the said pressure chamber to exert a pressure on the product chamber to empty it via the said connector and/or valve of the product chamber. This makes it possible to push the product out of the packaging via the connector or valve, without the product coming into contact with the external pressurizing device and thus without the sterility or the quality of the product being affected. Consequently, when the product is packed in sterile condition, its sterility will be retained.

As an example, without any limitative character, below a more detailed description is given of a few possible embodiments of the self-emptying packaging according to the invention. This description refers to the attached drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 represents a self-emptying packaging in its simplest form;

Fig. 2 represents a self-emptying packaging with two product chambers and a pressure chamber; Fig. 3 represents a self-emptying packaging with three product chambers and a pressure chamber;

Fig. 4 represents a self-emptying packaging with built-in compressed-air capsule; Fig. 5 represents a self-emptying packaging accommodated in a box; Fig. 6 represents several self-emptying packaging arranged as a battery with common pressurizing device- Fig. 7 represents a self-emptying packaging with a control device, on the connector or valve on the said product chamber, for emptying of this product chamber with exact metering system (8) or doses. The self-emptying packaging described below are manufactured from flexible material, for instance, one or more sheets of plastic obtained by laminating, which may or may not be processed so as to fully protected the packaged product from gases, air, fluids, light and/or radiation or other influences- Moreover, a material is selected which is suitable for producing a flexible self-emptying packaging by welding, hot-melting, bonding or other techniques, and which is sufficiently strong to meet the requirements. The self-emptying packaging represented in fig. 1 is compressible and consists of a product chamber 1 which can be filled with any fluid, viscous, paste-like or powdery product and a pressure chamber 3, separated from the product chamber 1 by a flexible partition 2, into which a fluid or gas is introduced under pressure by means of an external or internal pressurizing device- To enable the introduction of the fluid or gas under pressure into pressure chamber 3 by means of an external pressurizing device, a connector and/or valve 4 is provided on the pressure chamber 3 which is connected to the pressuring device. For filling and emptying of the product chamber 1, this chamber is provided with a connector and/or valve 5, which is opened automatically or manually when the pressured chamber 3, exerts a pressure on the product chamber 1 via the partition 2. The required pressure can be generated by a pressure capsule built into the pressure chamber 3 as depicted in fig. 4 with built-in or external regulating valve 7 or other regulating device for controlling the pressure in the pressure chamber, without the pressure being influenced by the pressuring device. Control of the pressure in the pressure chamber can also be achieved by a regulating valve, which is mounted on the external pressurizing device or its supply lines. The pressure can also be created by a chemical reaction or gas-forming, a liquid gas, a fluid reaction or any other pressure-generating device, of which the pressure can be determined in advance and set in accordance with the size of the product and pressure chambers and the pressure required to push or remove the product from the packaging- The pressure-generating device can also consist of an elastic element, which can be a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic compression spring. The pressurizing device to be connected to the connector and/or valve 4 of the pressure chamber 3 can consist of a compressor, a water mains, a pump or any other device with one or more internal or external regulating valves for regulating the pressure in the pressure chamber- To allow an efficient connection of the connector and/or valve 4 of the pressure chamber 3 to the pressuring device, a quick-coupler can be provided on the connector and/or valve on the pressuring device. In figures 2 and 3 one notices that the self-emptying packaging can also have several product chambers 1 each with a connector and/or valve 5 and a pressure chamber 3 with connector and/or valve, which product chambers can each contains a different product which can be mixed and/or distributed by a distributing device (not depicted) connected and/or valves 5. If desired, two or more product chambers 1 can be connected to each other through an opening in the partition 2. Furthermore, the volumes of two or more product chambers I can be made different in such a way that when the products are pushed out or removed from the packaging a specific ratio between the products pushed out or removed is obtained. One or more self-emptying packages can be transported and delivered either separately or in a box 8, as depicted in fig. 5. The box can be provided with a regulating valve or regulating device

85 7 with coupling for an external pressurizing device. It is also possible to provide the self-emptying package with regulating valve or regulating device and the box with a coupling for connection of the pressurizing device. The box can also be provided with a separate pressure chamber 3 made of plastic, rubber or any other flexible material, which pressure chamber is controlled by an internal or external regulating device, so that use can be made of separate packing with only one

90 or several product chambers- Fig. 6 depicts a battery of self-emptying package filled with the same or different products, which packaging are connected, via their connectors and/or valves 7, to a common conduit 9 of a central pressurizing device (not depicted). A regulation valve can be provided on the pressurizing device, on its supply conduit or on any branched-off individual conduit 10 to which a self-emptying

95 packaging is connected. In the last-mentioned embodiment different desired pressure can be exerted on the different packaging, furthermore, every packaging can be provided with a built-in regulating device which is connected to the central pressurizing device.

Fig. 7 one notices that the self-emptying package has a control device on the connector or valve. This device can function either manually, semi-automatic, automatic with motor, automatic with

100 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 packaging can be of any suitable type, that the dimensions and the shape of the packaging can vary, that use can be made of any suitable pressurizing device, and that the connectors and/or valves and regulating devices can be

Claims

Conclusions

1. Self-emptying packaging for fluid, paste-alike and powdery products, with as characteristic feature that it consists of flexible material and contains at least one closed product chamber (1) in which the fluid, viscous, paste-alike or powdery product is packed, a connector (5) provided on the said product chamber (1) for emptying and possibly filling of this chamber, a closed pressure chamber (3) in contact with the said product chamber (1), and at least a pressurizing device for pressurizing the said pressure chamber (3) to exert a pressure on the product chamber (1) to empty the latter via the said connector (5) of the product chamber.

2. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the flexible material of the packaging of a plastic film.

3. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the flexible material of the packaging of a flexible product composed of several layers by laminating.

4. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the flexible material of the packaging of rubber.

5. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the connector (5) is a valve.

6. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the packaging contains several product chambers (1) with valve (5) which are separated from each other by a partition (2), and one pressure chamber (3) with connection device (4) to connected to a pressurizing device.

7. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 6, with as characteristic feature that the product chambers (1) are connected to each other.

8. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the packaging is accommodated in a box (8) or container.

9. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the product chamber (1) and the pressure chamber (3) of the packaging are separate elements which are accommodated in a rigid container so that when the pressure chamber is pressurized and expands a pressure is exerted on the product chamber (1).

10. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the connectors (4) of the pressure chambers (3) of several filled packaging are connected to a common pressurizing device.

11. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the packaging has several pressure chambers (3).

12. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 10, with as characteristic feature that the connectors (4) of the pressure chambers (3) of the packaging are regulating valves for regulating the pressure.

13. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the pressurizing device is an external pressurizing device which is connected to the pressure chamber (3) of the packaging, and makes use of a fluid, gas, chemical product under pressure or a mechanical elastic element.

14. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the pressurizing device is an external pressurizing device, such as a pressure capsule (6), built into the pressure chamber (3) of the packaging.

15. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the pressure chamber (3) of the packaging can be connected to a compressor, pump or water mains through a quick-coupler.

16. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the pressure chamber (3) of the packaging contains an internal or external regulating device for regulating the pressure.

17. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to connect a filling nozzle to the connector (5) of the product chamber (1).

18. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to connect a distribution nozzle to the connector (5) of the product chamber (1).

19. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that the packaging is decorated.

20. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 1, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to empty the packaging, with a control device on the connector or valve (5) of the product chamber (1), the volume of the dose of the out-coming product is metered controlled.

21. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 6, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to empty the packaging, with a control device on each connector or valve (5) of the product chambers (1), the volume of the dose of the out-coming products is metered controlled.

22. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 8, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to empty the packaging, with a control device on the connector or valve (5) of the product chamber (1), the volume of the dose of the out-coming product is metered controlled 23. Self-emptying packaging according to conclusion 8, with as characteristic feature that it is possible to empty the packaging, with a control device on each connector or valve (5) of the product chambers (1), the volume of the dose of the out-coming products is metered controlled.