WO2002087991A1

WO2002087991A1 - Container, connection device therefor and method for manufacturing filled containers

Info

Publication number: WO2002087991A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/000767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Åke ROSÉN
Original assignee: Eco Lean Research & Development A/S
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: SE0101484L; SE0101484D0; SE518748C2

Abstract

An opening device for a container (16) of a collapsible type for liquid contents, comprising a body (2) extended between a first (4) and a second (7) end, and a removable cap (3) arranged at the first end (4). The body (2) is fixedly connectable to the container (16) by heat sealing. The opening device is characterised in that the body (2) along an end portion (10) adjoining the second end (7) comprises a guide means (9) to allow insertion of said end portion (10) into a duct means (20) of the container (16) by linear movement of the body (2) in its longitudinal direction, the second end (7) facing the duct means (20). The present invention also concerns a container comprising such an opening device, and a method for manufacturing such a container, in which the opening device is integrated into the container after filling thereof.

Description

CONTAINER, CONNECTION DEVICE THEREFOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FILLED CONTAINERS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an opening device for a container, and a method for manufacturing a filled container with an integrated con- nection device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an opening device for a container of a collapsible type for liquid contents, comprising a body extended between a first and a second end and a removable cap arranged at said first end, which body is fixedly connectable to the container by heat sealing, such a container as well as a method for manufacturing such an aseptically filled container, in which the opening device is integrated into the container after filling. Background Art By containers of a collapsible type are meant containers which comprise walls defining a compartment whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls . While liquid contents held in the compartment are emptied through a suitably designed outlet, the walls of the container collapse, whereby the volume of the compartment decreases and the risk of air intrusion is minimized.

In some situations, it is desirable to provide the outlet of a container of this type with an opening device which, for instance, makes the container resealable. Such an opening device can either be releasably connected to the container, whereby one and the same opening device can be used for a plurality of containers, or be fixedly connected to the container.

If the opening device is fixedly connected to the container, it has sometimes been found advantageous to connect the opening device to the container only after filling thereof with liquid contents. The container is usually manufactured with an open unsealed side, through which a filling device is inserted for filling the container with liquid contents. After completion of the filling operation, a suitably designed opening device is arranged in the open side between two opposite walls of the container, after which the open side is sealed, for example by means of heat sealing jaws .

The opening device usually comprises a body, which by heat sealing is connectable to the container, and a cap connected to the body. The body has a shape which ensures sealing connection to the container in conjunction with said heat sealing.

An opening device of this type is known from O99/06301. The opening device described comprises a body extended between a first and a second end. The body supports at its second end a fixing means, which is connectable to a container by heat sealing. A means is arranged on the fixing means for reducing the stress at the connecting point between one side of the fixing means and the container.

This prior art technique of providing a container with a fixedly connected opening device, however, has been found to cause a number of drawbacks . On the one hand it has proved to be difficult to prevent air from intruding into the container when connecting the opening device to the container. On the other hand, the technique implies that a relatively large surface of the liquid contents is exposed to the ambient air. As a result, it will be extremely difficult to manufacture aseptically filled containers.

With a view to minimizing intrusion of air and exposure of the contents to the ambient air it is possible to provide the container with a duct means, through which contents are supplied to the container. Such a container is disclosed, for example, in W099/41155. However, it has been found difficult to fixedly arrange an opening device in the duct means after filling. For arranging the opening device disclosed in WO99/06301 in the duct means it is in fact necessary to insert the opening means with one side of its fixing means facing the duct means. Then the opening device is turned so that its second end faces the duct means. During this procedure, the duct means of the container will be opened in a manner that causes both intrusion of air into the container and exposure of the contents to the ambient air. There is thus a need for an opening device which can be integrated into the container after filling thereof and which also allows manufacture of aseptically filled containers . Summary of the Invention In view of that stated above, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening device for containers of a collapsible type.

A further object is to provide such an opening device which with maintained sterility can be integrated into a container of a collapsible type after aseptic filling thereof.

Another object is to provide a container which has an integrated opening device .

Yet another object is to provide a method for manu- facturing aseptically filled containers of a collapsible type with an integrated opening device connected to the container after filling thereof.

To achieve the above objects, there are provided according to the present invention an opening device having the features stated in claim 1, a container having the features stated in claim 13 and a method having the features stated in claim 19. Preferred embodiments of the opening device are evident from claims 2-12 which are dependent on claim 1, and preferred embodiments of the con- tainer are evident from claims 14-18 which are dependent on claim 13. According to the present invention, more specifically an opening device for a container of a collapsible type for liquid contents is provided, comprising a body extended between a first and a second end, and a remov- able cap arranged at said first end, said body being fixedly connectable to the container by heat sealing, said opening device being characterised in that the body along an end portion adjoining the second end comprises a guide means to allow insertion of said end portion into a duct means of the container by linear movement of the body in its longitudinal direction, the second end facing the duct means .

As a result, an opening device is provided, which with maintained sterility can be connected to a container of a collapsible type after filling thereof. More specifically, the opening device comprises a guide means, by means of which an end portion of the body of the opening device can be inserted into a duct means of the container by linear movement of the body of the opening device in its longitudinal direction. It is thus possible to design the duct means so that, in an unaffected state, it is essentially tight and is gradually opened as the end portion of the body and the guide means arranged along said end portion are inserted into said duct means . Con- sequently, it will be possible to arrange the opening device in the duct means without air intruding into the container while the contents held in the compartment of the container remain unexposed to the ambient air, which in turn means that it will be possible to manufacture aseptically filled containers of a collapsible type with an integrated opening device, which is connected to the container after filling thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive opening device, said guide means has a shape tapering to- wards said second end, the guide means preferably having a continuously tapering shape. This ensures that the end portion of the body will be easily insertable into the duct means of the container. Said guide means is advantageously terminated with a tip at said second end of the body and is also advantageously formed integrally with the body. According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive opening device, the body further comprises a fixing means which is arranged at a distance from said second end and which is connectable to the container by heat sealing. Said fixing means preferably comprises two mutually opposite flap members projecting from the body, each flap means having a shape tapering towards its free end, whereby the fixing means is sealingly connectable in a connecting portion between two opposite walls of the container. The fixing means advantageously forms a base of the guide means and is also advantageously formed integrally with the body.

According to one more preferred embodiment of the inventive opening device, the cap is arranged for threaded engagement with the body. According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive opening device, the body internally defines a flow path extended in the longitudinal direction of the body and being open at both ends .

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the inventive opening device, transverse ridges are formed on the fixing means.

According to the present invention, also a container of a collapsible type for liquid contents is provided, characterised by a duct means, in which an opening device as described above is fixedly connected.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive container, the duct means has an inner circumference which essentially corresponds to a maximum outer circumference of the guide means of the opening device . According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive container, the duct means has two opposite inner surfaces engaging each other, which each have a set of parallel ridges, the two sets of ridges being mutually twisted at an angle. This allows easy insertion of the end portion of the opening device into the duct means since the ridges facilitate separation of said surfaces as the end portion is being inserted into the duct means. The container advantageously comprises a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls.

According to another preferred embodiment of the in- ventive container, the walls of the container are made of a material comprising a filler of chalk and a binder of a polyolefin material .

Preferably the duct means is formed integrally with two opposite side walls of the container. Finally, according to the present invention, a method is provided for manufacturing an aseptically filled container of a collapsible type with an integrated opening device, said container comprising a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls, and a duct means which is formed integrally with two side walls of the walls and which connects the compartment with the ambient air, the container before filling being in a sealed and flat state, said method being characterised by the steps of opening said duct means by cutting or like operation, filling the compartment of the container with liquid contents by means of a filling device, subsequently arranging said opening device in said duct means, which opening device comprises an elongate body which along an end portion connecting to a second end of said body has a guide means tapering towards the second end and having a maximum outer circumference which essentially corresponds to an inner circumference of the duct means, said opening device being arranged in the duct means by linear raove- ment of the body in its longitudinal direction for insertion of the end portion into the duct means, said second end facing the duct means, and finally fixing the opening device arranged in the duct means in the container by heat sealing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive opening device.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the opening device in Fig. 1, where a cap of the opening device has been unscrewed.

Fig. 3^* is a schematic perspective view of a container of a collapsible type.

Figs 4-9 illustrate schematically an inventive method for manufacturing an aseptically filled container of the type shown in Fig. 3 with an opening device integrated into a duct means of the container. Description of Embodiments

Figs 1 and 2, to which reference is now made, illus- trate a preferred embodiment of an inventive opening device 1.

The opening device 1 comprises an elongate body 2 and a cap 3, which is removably arranged at a first end 4 of the body 2. More specifically, the cap 3 has an in- ternal thread (not shown) , which engages with an external thread 5 formed on the body 2 in connection with said first end 4. The cap 3 can thus be unscrewed from and screwed onto said first end 4 of the body 2.

The body 2 defines an internal flow path 6 which is open towards said first end 4 and which extends in the direction of a second end 7 of the body 2 opposite to the first end 4. Two opposite openings 8 , of which only one is shown, are formed in the circumferential surface of the body 2 in connection with said second end 7, through which openings 8 the flow path 6 is open towards the ambient air. The flow path is thus open towards both ends 4, 7 of the body 2 and is also open towards the ambient air at both ends by unscrewing of the cap 3 of the opening device 1.

The body 2 comprises a guide means 9, which extends along an end portion 10 connecting to the second end 7 of the body and which according to the embodiment shown is formed integrally with the body 2. The guide means 9 has a shape tapering towards the second end 7 and is terminated with a rounded tip 11 at said second end 7.

The body 2 further carries a fixing means 12 which in the embodiment shown is formed integrally with the body 2 at a distance from said second end 7. The fixing means 12 forms a base of the guide means 9 and comprises two flap members 13 which project on opposite sides of the body 2, each having a shape tapering towards its free end 14. The fixing means 12 has a set of transverse ridges 15, the purpose of which will be described below.

The body 2, as well as the fixing means 12 and the guide means 9 which are formed integrally with the body and also the cap 3 connectable to the body 2 are advan- tageously made of a polyolefin material, such as polyethylene .

Fig. 3, to which reference is now made, illustrates a container 16, to which the above-described opening device 1 is connectable. The container 16 comprises a compartment which is defined by flexible walls 17 and whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls 17. The walls 17 comprise a bottom wall (not shown) and two opposite side walls 18, of which only one is shown, which are interconnected along a connecting por- tion 19. The container 16 is of a collapsible type, by which is meant that its compartment defined by the flexible walls 17, in a state filled with liquid contents, collapses as the liquid contents held in the compartment are being emptied. The container 16 is preferably made of a material comprising a binder of polyolefin and a filler of chalk (calcium carbonate) . The container 16 has an outlet in the form of a duct means 20, which is formed integrally with the side walls 18. In the embodiment shown, the duct means 20 is made of two projections 21 of the side walls 18, which projec- tions are interconnected along their sides. It will be appreciated, however, that the duct means 20 can be configured in other ways.

The two projections 21 of the duct means 20 each have an inner surface 22, which surfaces engage each other and which, for increased clarity, are shown in an exaggeratedly separated state in the enlargement of a detail in Fig. 4, which shows the container in Fig. 3 with the duct means 20 in an open state. A set of parallel ridges 23, 24 are formed on each surface 22, which sets 23, 24 are mutually twisted at an angle.

Before filling, the container 16 is in a flat and sealed state. The duct means 20 is thus sealed, whereby the compartment defined by the walls 17 is emptied of air and does not communicate with the ambient air. As a result, it will be possible when manufacturing the container 16 to sterilise its compartment and maintain this sterility until the container 16 is to be filled. In the following the method for manufacturing an aseptically filled container 16 with an integrated inventive opening device 1 will be described with reference to Figs 4-9.

Fig. 4, to which reference is now made, illustrates a container 16 of the type that has been described above with reference to Fig. 3, which container 16 has been inserted into a sterile room 25, which is schematically indicated by broken lines. The duct means 20 of the container 16 has been opened by cutting or like operation. It is to be noted that the duct means 20 is designed so as to be essentially tight in an unaffected state, there- by ensuring that air cannot intrude into the compartment of the container 16. Subsequently the container is filled by means of a filling device 26 indicated by broken lines, which is shown in Fig. 5. According to the preferred embodiment, a filling tube 27 of the filling device is inserted into the open duct means 20, through which filling tube 27 the compartment of the container 16 is filled with liquid contents, such as milk. As appears from Fig. 5, the compartment of the container 16 swells and its walls 17 are separated as the liquid contents are transferred to the compartment .

After the filling operation has been completed, the filling tube 27 is removed from the duct means 20, which thus again takes its unaffected, essentially tight state. Then the inventive opening device 1 is connected to the container 16, which is illustrated in Figs 6-9.

The end portion 10 of the body 2 of the opening device 1 is inserted into the duct means 20, as shown in Figs 6-8. More specifically, this is accomplished by linear movement of the body 2 of the opening device 1 in the direction indicated by arrow P. Thus the body 2 is linearly moved in its longitudinal direction, the second end 7 of the body 2 facing the duct means 20. The guide means 9 ensures that this insertion is allowed without any problems . In the shown embodiment , the guide means 9 has a shape tapering towards the second end 7. It will be appreciated that the guide means 9 preferably has a continuously tapering shape in order to ensure easy insertion of said end portion 10 into the duct means 20. The sets 23, 24 of ridges, which are mutually twisted at an angle on the inner surfaces 22 of the projections 21 of the duct means 20 contribute to easier separation of the surfaces 22 from each other during insertion of the end portion of the body 2 into the duct means 20. More precisely, the ridges 23, 24 ensure that a thin layer of air is formed between the surfaces 22, which prevents them from adhering to each other. Means (not shown) can be arranged in the sterile room 25 to initially separate the projections 21 of the duct means 20 in order to facilitate the step, shown in Fig. 6, of inserting the tip 11 of the guide means 9 into the duct means 20. The ridges 23, 24 on the inner surfaces 22 also in this case facilitate the separation of the projections 21 of the duct means 20. It will be appreciated that the ridges 23, 24 also facilitate the insertion of the filling tube 27 into the duct means 20 and that means (not shown) for separating the surfaces 22 of the projections 21 can be arranged to facilitate the insertion of said filling tube 27 into the duct means 20. The guide means 9 of the body 2 has a maximum outer circumference which essentially corresponds to the inner circumference of the duct means 20. This maximum circumference is more specifically found on the fixing means 12, which forms a base of the guide means 9.

When the fixing means .12 of the body 2 has been inserted into the duct means 20, the opening device 1 is connected to the container 16 by heat sealing, which is illustrated in Fig. 9. It is then, of course, ensured that preferably the entire opening device, and in any case its fixing means 12, is made of a material which is fixedly connectable to the duct means 20 of the container 16 by heat sealing. The heat sealing can be carried out, for instance, by means of heat sealing jaws 28, which are indicated by broken lines and which grasp the duct means 20 and fix the fixing means 12 of the body 2 in the projections 21 of the duct means 20 by sealing along a weld joint 29. As mentioned above, the flap members 13 of the fixing means 12 advantageously comprise transverse ridges 15, which promote sealing connection of the opening device 1 to the container 16. Also the shape, tapering towards the free ends 14, of the flap members 13 of the fixing means promotes a sealing connection.

The above method of connecting an opening device 1 to a filled container 16 means that the risk of air in- trusion is eliminated, or in any case is essentially reduced. Also the surface, exposed to the ambient air, of the liquid contents is minimized. This eliminates, or in any case minimizes, the risk of contamination of the contents when connecting the opening device 1 to the container 16, whereby manufacture of aseptically filled containers 16 with integrated opening devices 1 is allowed.

According to the present invention, an opening de- vice 1 is thus provided, which can be integrated into a filled container 16 while eliminating, or in any case minimizing, the risk of both intrusion of air into the compartment defined by the walls 17 of the container 16 and exposure of the contents held in the compartment to the ambient air. More specifically, the opening device 1 has a guide means 9, by means of which en end portion 10 of the body 2 of the opening device 1 can be inserted into a duct means 20 of the container 16 by linear movement of the body of the opening device 1 in its longi- tudinal direction. Consequently it will be possible to design the duct means 20 so that it is gradually opened by separation of projections 21 of the duct means 20, which engage each other, as the end portion 10 of the body 2 and the guide means 9 arranged along the same are being inserted into the duct means 20. The projections 21 engage each other in an essentially tight manner in an unaffected state. It will thus be possible to arrange the opening device 1 in the duct means 20 without air intruding into the compartment of the container 16, while the contents held in the compartment remain unexposed to the ambient air, which in turn means that it will be possible to manufacture aseptically filled containers 16 of a collapsible type with integrated opening devices 1, which are connected to the container 16 after filling thereof.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. For example, the guide means and the fixing means of the opening device can be designed in a different way. The appearance of the duct means of the container may also be differen . Nor does the filling of the container necessarily have to take place through the duct means, in which the opening device is later arranged by heat sealing.

Several variations and modifications are thus feasible, and therefore the scope of the present invention is exclusively defined by the appended claims .

Claims

1. An opening device for a container (16) of a col- lapsible type for liquid contents, comprising a body (2) extended between a first (4) and a second (7) end, and a removable cap (3) arranged at the first end (4) , said body (2) being fixedly connectable to the container (16) by heat sealing, c hara c t er i s e d in that the body (2) along an end portion (10) adjoining the second end (7) comprises a guide means (9) to allow insertion of said end portion (10) into a duct means (20) of the container (16) by linear movement of the body (2) in its longitudinal direction, the second end (7) facing the duct means (20) .

2. An opening device as claimed in claim 1, in which said guide means (9) has a shape tapering towards said second end (7) .

3. An opening device as claimed in claim 2, in which the guide means (9) has a continuously tapering shape.

4. An opening device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 , in which said guide means (9) is terminated with a tip (11) at said second end (7) .

5. An opening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide means (9) is formed integrally with the body (2) .

6. An opening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body (2) further comprises a fixing means (12) which is arranged at a distance from said second end (7) and which is connectable to the container (16) by heat sealing.

7. An opening device as claimed in claim 6, in which said fixing means (12) comprises two mutually opposite flap members (13) projecting from the body (2) , each flap means (13) having a shape tapering towards its free end (14) , whereby the fixing means (12) is sealingly connect- able in a connecting portion (19) between two opposite side walls (18) of the container (16) .

8. An opening device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the fixing means (12) forms a base of the guide means (9) .

9. An opening device as claimed in any one of claims 6-8, in which the fixing means (12) is formed integrally with the body (2) .

10. An opening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cap (3) is arranged for threaded engagement with the body (2) .

11. An opening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body (2) internally defines a flow path extended in the longitudinal direction of the body (2) and being open at both ends.

12. An opening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which transverse ridges (15) are formed on the fixing means (12) .

13. A container of a collapsible type for liquid con- tents, cha ra c t e r i s e d by a duct means (20) in which an opening device (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1-12 is fixedly arranged.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, in which the duct means (20) has an inner circumference which essen- tially corresponds to a maximum outer circumference of the guide means (9) of the opening device (1) .

15. A container as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which the duct means (20) has two opposite inner surfaces

(22) engaging each other, which each have a set of paral- lei ridges (23, 24) , the two sets of ridges (23, 24) being mutually twisted at an angle.

16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 13-

15, comprising a compartment which is defined by flexible walls (17) and whose volume depends on the relative posi- tion of the walls (17) .

17. A container as claimed in any one of claims 13-

16, in which the walls (17) of the container are made of a material comprising a filler of chalk and a binder of a polyolefin material.

18. A container as claimed in any one of claims 13- 17, in which said walls (17) comprise two opposite side walls (18) , the duct means (20) being formed integrally with said side walls (18) .

19. A method for manufacturing an aseptically filled container (16) of a collapsible type with an integrated opening device (1) , said container (16) comprising a com- partment which is defined by flexible walls (17) and whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls (17) , and a duct means (20) which is formed integrally with two side walls (18) of the walls (17) and which connects the compartment with the ambient air, the container (16) before filling being in a sealed and flat state, cha r a c t er i s e d by the steps of opening said duct means (20) by cutting or like operation, filling the compartment of the container (16) with liquid contents by means of a filling device (26) , subsequently arranging said opening device (1) in said duct means (20) , which opening device (1) comprises an elongate body (2) which along an end portion (10) connecting to a second end (7) of said body has a guide means (9) tapering towards the second end (7) and having a maximum outer circumference which essentially corresponds to an inner circumference of the duct means (20) , said opening device (1) being arranged in the duct means (20) by linear movement of the body (2) in its longitudinal direction for insertion of the end portion (10) into the duct means (20) , said second end (7) facing the duct means (20) , and finally fixing the opening device (1) arranged in the duct means (20) in the container (16) by heat sealing.