Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C1/00—Producing ice
  • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
  • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
  • F25C1/243—Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
  • B65D79/008—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a packaging device intended for sealingly packaging at least one substance which is capable of exhibiting variations in volume and comprising a container comprising at least one opening and a closing member intended to close said opening.
• the invention is intended more particularly for the preparation of ice cubes and for the packaging of food substances; however, it can also apply to the packaging of any other substance.
• the ice cubes are currently prepared at home using suitable bins placed in the freezer. Even if these ice cubes can be made with mineral water, there are potential sources of problems, such as a lack of hygiene due to cleaning of the containers, the duration of storage of the ice cubes in the open air, hygiene when handling ice cubes. Similar problems arise with automatic ice makers.
• the present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a packaging device which is characterized for this purpose by the fact that it comprises, arranged in said container, at least one compensation chamber whose internal volume is variable to compensate for variations in volume of said substance, which has an at least partially movable sealed wall separating said variable internal volume from said substance, and which is capable of communicating through at least one orifice with the outside of the container.
• the compensation chamber is arranged so as to present, in its inflated state at maximum volume, a volume at least as large as the value of the maximum volume increase that the substance contained in the container can undergo.
• the device is favorably arranged to contain essentially water or ice, the volume of the compensation chamber in its inflated state at maximum volume corresponding substantially to at least ten percent of the volume of water contained in the container.
• This embodiment is particularly suitable for the industrial production of ice cubes.
• said compensation chamber is formed of a film of flexible material fixed to said closure member constituted by a cover and containing an air bubble or another gas or fluid directed towards said contained substance. in the container, the cover being crossed by at least one orifice to connect the air bubble with the outside.
• a particularly safe packaging device is thus obtained, easy to manufacture and of very moderate cost price, therefore well suited to mass production.
• the device can comprise a plurality of containers attached laterally to each other to form plates or bands and closed at their upper part by said cover.
• the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing and using the packaging device and is characterized for this purpose by the fact that the container is prepared, the film with a preformed cavity and the cover, which is fix the film under the cover so as to trap an air bubble or other gas or fluid in the cavity, that the container is filled with the substance at a predetermined filling level, such that a volume sufficient to allow the expansion of the substance is reserved in the container, that the assembly consisting of the cover and the film is fixed in a leaktight and removable manner on the container, and that a drilling is made in the cover.
• Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment, the content being liquid, respectively frozen.
• FIGS 3 and 4 illustrate the mode of use of this first embodiment.
• Figures 5, 6 and 7 show variants of the first embodiment.
• Figures 8 to 14 are views showing the different stages of a method of manufacturing and using the first embodiment.
• Figures 15 and 16 are views of a second embodiment.
• Figures 17 and 18 show a third embodiment.
• Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a fourth embodiment.
• the packaging device according to the first embodiment consists of three parts, namely a container 1, for example in the form of a semi-rigid thermoformed cup 11, a closure member 2 intended to close an upper opening 7 of the container 1, here constituted by a cover 12 similar to that of a pot of yogurt, and a wall waterproof 3 movable, mobile and / or deformable, for example formed of a flexible film 13 thermoformed with a preformed cavity.
• This film 13 may advantageously be made of plastic, for example high density polyethylene.
• the container 1 is intended to contain a determined quantity of a substance 4 which is either in the liquid state 14 or in the frozen or solid state 15.
• the flexible film 13 is fixed, for example by heat sealing under the cover. It forms a volume of fluid, more particularly an air bubble 16 directed towards the liquid 14.
• the cover 12 is crossed by at least one bore in the form of a small hole 17 connecting the air bubble to the outside of the packaging. This air bubble therefore forms a compensation chamber 6 whose internal volume is variable, since the sealed wall 3 is flexible and deformable.
• the compensation chamber 6 makes it possible to compensate for the variations in volume by air exchange with the outside through the or holes or bores acting as a regulatory body.
• the volume of this compensation chamber in the inflated state at maximum volume is at least as large as the value of the maximum increase in volume that the substance 4 can undergo in the container.
• substance 4 may contain a determined quantity of water or ice.
• the volume of the compensation chamber 6 in its inflated state is then at least as large as the increase in volume generated when the amount of water turns into ice.
• the container essentially contains water and the device is intended for the production of ice cubes.
• the volume of the compensation chamber in its inflated state then corresponds approximately to ten percent of the volume of water contained in the cup 11.
• the film 13 folds (FIG. 2) and the ice cube 15 is formed while remaining sealed in the packaging, the cup 11 and the cover 12 do not undergo any deformation.
• the bubble re-forms.
• the cold chain can be interrupted without the substance contained in the cup 11 coming into contact with the outside and without the container and the lid being deformed.
• the cup 11 comprises a detachable tab or tab 20 which is integral with the cover 12 and film 13 assembly. This tab 20 facilitates the opening of the cup.
• the ice cube 15 is then extracted normally through the opening 7 as in the case of a simple ice cube tray.
• the buckets 11 can be manufactured to be presented in stackable plates or strips or in pairs. These buckets can then be separated by breaking segments, grooves or perforated.
• the invention is particularly suitable for the production of ice cubes made of water or mineral water, as shown in FIG. 7.
• the consumer can then receive his drink accompanied by a few ice cubes hermetically sealed in their individual packaging, advantageously identified with name of a brand 21 of mineral water or other drink and with an expiry date.
• the outer surface of the cover then serves as a printing surface, for example to identify the content or as an advertising medium.
• the three parts of the packaging device namely the cup 11, the film 13 with its preformed concave bubble and the cover 12 in the cavity, are prepared (FIG. 8).
• the film 13 is fixed on its edges, for example by heat sealing, under the cover so as to trap in the cavity an air bubble 16 or another gas or fluid corresponding substantially to at least ten percent of the volume of water which will be contained in the cup 11 (fig. 9).
• the connection between the film and the cover must be tight and permanent.
• the liquid, water for example, is then poured into the cup 11 to a level above the final filling level 22 to be reached (fig. 10).
• the cup 11 is then presented opposite a suction tube 23 whose height of the orifice is calibrated so as to obtain the final filling level 22 desired by suction of the excess liquid (FIG. 11).
• the filling of the cup is thus carried out so as to reserve an unoccupied volume 24 which is sufficient to allow the expansion of the liquid during its freezing (FIG. 12).
• the assembly, cover 12 and film 13, is in turn fixed, for example by heat sealing, on the rim 25 of the cup 11.
• the bubble 16 then expels a volume of air equivalent to its volume of the cup 11 (fig. 13 ).
• the assembly is fixed in a leaktight, but removable manner, to the bucket 11.
• a hole 17 is then made in the cover 12 so as to allow air to circulate between the bubble 16 and the outside so as to form a compensation chamber 6 with variable volume.
• the air from the bubble 16 escapes through the hole 17 and neither the cup 11 nor the cover 12 are deformed (fig. 2).
• the bubble 16 is reformed (fig. 1), this cycle being able to continue indefinitely.
• FIGS. 15 and 16 comprises a cup 31 closed at its upper part by an intact cover 32 without orifice.
• a film 33 is fixed to the bottom 34 of the bucket 31 to form a bubble 36 playing the role of compensation chamber.
• the bottom is pierced with a small hole 37.
• the film 43 is fixed to the side wall 44 of the bucket 31.
• the container 1 can have any shape, including fancy shapes.
• the packaging device is used for the molding of sorbets or edible ice cream 45.
• the container 1 is closed by a cover 46 made in one piece with a rod 47 extending from the two sides of the cover 46.
• the lower side of the rod is surrounded by a film 48 forming a compensation chamber 49 (FIG. 19).
• the cover 46 is pierced with a small hole 50.
• the compensation chamber has a very small volume.
• the container 1 is removed.
• the ice 45 remains however fixed on the rod 47 which can be held by the consumer by its other free end.
• the device packaging can be adapted to the filling and storage of any food or non-food substance undergoing volume variations.
• the closing member could be constituted by any other cover or plug fixed to the container by any means, screwing, tightening, etc.
• the waterproof wall 3 could be rigid and connected to the container by a deformable element, such as a waterproof bellows, to ensure the volume variations of the compensation chamber 6.
• This waterproof wall could be made of any other flexible, deformable waterproof material or rigid.
• the closure member could be pierced with several orifices, preferably of small diameter, less than 1 mm.
• the ice cubes being made up of water or mineral water, they could be prepared according to very varied compositions and tastes. They could for example have a composition similar or identical to the drink they are intended to cool, so that the latter is not diluted or altered in its taste. They could also add flavor different to the drink.
• the packaging may also be used as an advertising medium.
• the manufacturing and use process could also be modified and adapted to specific conditions.
• the filling of the liquid could be carried out in a single operation with suitable metering means.
• the liquid could also be filled to the brim and the excess liquid would then be expelled by fixing the seal and film assembly.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Package Closures (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11004885

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Citations (2)

• 1999
  • 1999-08-02 AT AT99931419T patent/ATE241529T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-08-02 EP EP99931419A patent/EP1206397B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-08-02 AU AU47951/99A patent/AU4795199A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-08-02 DE DE69908431T patent/DE69908431D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-08-02 WO PCT/IB1999/001365 patent/WO2001009004A1/fr active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (2)

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