WO2005000695A2

WO2005000695A2 - Packaging system for separately storing, mixing and dispensing at least two flowable components

Info

Publication number: WO2005000695A2
Application number: PCT/IB2004/002159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Frans Cyrille Cornelius Vanblaere; Willy Leonard Alice Kegels
Original assignee: Packaging Technology Holding S.A.
Priority date: 2003-06-30
Filing date: 2004-06-29
Publication date: 2005-01-06
Also published as: PT1644254E; ES2382331T3; NL1023778C2; DK1644254T3; EP1644254B1; ATE548282T1; EP1644254A2; WO2005000695A3

Abstract

A packaging system (V) for separately storing at least two flowable components which in use are to flow jointly from the packaging system, wherein the packaging system comprises at least two product chambers (A, B) closable with respect to each other and an outlet opening (1), wherein the packaging system can assume at least one storage condition and one mixing condition, wherein, in the storage condition, each product chamber is closed with respect to the other product chamber and wherein, in the mixing condition, at least one of the product chambers is provided with a fluid connection with at least one of the other product chambers.

Description

Title: Packaging system for separately storing at least two flowable components which in use are to flow jointly from the packaging system

The invention relates to a packaging system for separately storing at least two flowable components which in use are to flow jointly from the packaging system, the packaging system comprising at least two product chambers closable with respect to each other and an outlet opening, the packaging system being able to assume at least one storage condition and one mixing condition, while, in the storage condition, each product chamber being closed with respect to the other product chamber and while, in the mixing condition, at least one of the product chambers is provided with a fluid connection with at least one of the other product chambers, while the packaging system is provided with at least one dividing wall located between the at least two product chambers, which dividing wall is provided with an openable closing element for bringing about the fluid connection, while the packaging system is further provided with driving means for providing, in at least one of the product chambers, a first predetermined pressure which is sufficiently high to bring the closing element into an opened condition. Such a packaging system is, for instance, known from US patent specification US 4,693,706. The known system is provided with two product chambers divided by a membrane. The known system is further provided with a plunger to generate, by means of hand power, a pressure in the first product chamber which is sufficiently high to make the membrane rupture or separate. After this, the two products can mix and be dispensed to an outlet opening. This known system has the drawback that opening the membrane can take place in an uncontrolled manner. Such a packaging system is also known from US patent specification US 5,082,146. The known system is provided with a container inside which two compartments are divided by a membrane. Both compartments have been filled with a product and a gas under a pressure. By letting gas escape from the container via a valve in the first compartment, the membrane will rupture or separate under the influence of a pressure difference between the compartments created by this, so that the two products can mix. Finally, the mixed product can be dispensed under the influence of the pressure of the gas present, which then serves as a propellant. A drawback of this known packaging system is that the products to be vaporized are, in each of the compartments, in contact with a propellant in that compartment before use, which is not allowed for all vaporizable products. There is a need for packaging systems where the stored flowable components are not in contact with a propellant and where the possibility is offered to open the closing element in a controlled manner. The object of the invention is to provide a packaging system by means of which this need can be filled. This object of the invention is achieved with a packaging system according to the invention which is characterized in that the driving means are provided with a pressure chamber for storing propellant with the aid of which the first predetermined pressure can be applied. Here, the propellant is, at least in the storage condition, not in contact with the flowable components in the product chambers. In addition, the use of the propellant makes it possible to generate the first predetermined pressure in a controlled manner, for instance by means of a pressure regulating device or reducing valve, which pressure is sufficiently high to bring the closing element into an opened condition. A special embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention is characterized in that the fluid connection at least extends from at least one product chamber of a first type through at least one product chamber of a second type to the outlet opening, the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type each being one product chamber of the at least two product chambers. This means that there is no need for a separate chamber in which the components to be brought into contact with each other in the mixing condition do actually contact each other and may possibly mix. This allows the packaging system to have a compact design. In addition, the at least two flowable components can mix well with each other because a component from the product chamber of the first type will, while mixing with a component in the product chamber of the second type, follow the fluid connection when flowing out of the packaging system via the outlet opening.

In particular, the driving means are also arranged for applying, in the product chamber of the first type, a second predetermined pressure which is sufficiently high to drive a flowable component of a first type present in the product chamber of the first type out of the product chamber of the first type. Upon realizing the second predetermined pressure, the mixing of the component of the first type with the component of the second type will actively take place. The outlet opening will preferably be closable in the storage condition. This offers the advantage that the outlet opening can be provided in a wall of the product chamber of the second type. It is also possible that the outlet opening is closable in the mixing condition. This offers the advantage that a user can have the mixing take place as much as possible before the components are to flow jointly from the packaging system. In the embodiment which has an at least virtually ready-to-use design, in the product chamber of the first type, a flowable component of a first type has been included and, in the product chamber of the second type, a flowable component of a second type has been included. Here, it may hold true that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition. This embodiment may be very suitable when both the first and the second component comprise a gas. It is also possible that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable component of the second type in the storage condition. This embodiment may also be very suitable when, for instance, the first component easily mixes with the second component, such as for instance a gas and a vapor. For another embodiment, it may hold true that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable component of the second type in the storage condition plus an extra volume. This embodiment may be very suitable when, for instance, the mixing of the first component with the second component takes place more effectively in a room which is slightly larger than the volume of the first component and the volume of the second component together. In other words, this embodiment is particularly suitable for fluid -like components. It may also hold true that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are fixedly connected with each other. The system may then for instance be designed as a can or bottle. As an alternative, however, it is also possible that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are detachably connected with each other. This means that the at least product chambers can be separately manufactured, stored, sold and purchased. In addition, this leaves a freedom of choice for the combination of at least two components which are to be stored in the system and are to be mixed with each other during use. This may, for instance, be useful when one of the at least two flowable components comprises a color component to be freely determined. Such color components may, for instance, be applicable with paint sprays or cosmetic products. Further, the driving means may be detachably connected with at least the product chamber of the first type. In that case, it is also possible that the driving means are salable separately from the packaging system and can, optionally, even be usable multiple times. In a special embodiment, the packaging system is provided with at least two product chambers of the first type which are, in the mixing condition, each provided with a fluid connection with at least one product chamber of the second type. In this embodiment, it is possible that, in each of the at least two product chambers of the first type, a component has been included which differs from the component included in one of the other of the at least two product chambers of the first type. In this case, it is possible to separately store, for instance, three mutually different components in the packaging system and to have them mix with one another in the mixing condition. It is also possible that the at least two product chambers of the first type have mutually different volumes, which offers the advantage that it is possible to store much volume of a first component of, for instance, three components in the packaging system and, for instance, little volume of a second component of three components. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to a drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross section of a first embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic cross section of a second embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention. Same parts in the drawing are designated by same reference symbols. Fig. 1 shows a packaging system V for separately storing at least two flowable components which in use are to flow jointly from the packaging system V. The packaging system V comprises at least two product chambers A, B closable with respect to each other. In this example, product chamber B is a product chamber of the first type and, in this example, product chamber A is a product chamber of the second type. In this example, the packaging system is further provided with an outlet opening 1. Between the two product chambers A, B, a dividing wall 4 is located. This dividing wall 4 is provided with an openable closing element 3 for bringing about a fluid connection between the product chamber of the first type B and the product chamber of the second type A. The packaging system is further provided with driving means 6 for applying, in the product chamber B, a first predetermined pressure which is sufficiently high to open the closing element 3 in the dividing wall 4, that is, to bring it into an opened condition. The driving means 6 are provided with a pressure chamber C for storing propellant with the aid of which at least the first predetermined pressure can be built up. The driving means 6 are further provided with a release means 9 for releasing gas from the pressure chamber C for the purpose of building up at least the first predetermined pressure in the product chamber of the first type B. An example of such a release means is described in the non-prior published application NL 1021544 of applicant which is understood to be inserted herein by reference. The packaging system can assume at least one storage condition and one mixing condition. In the storage condition, each product chamber A, B is closed with respect to each other product chamber A, B. In the mixing condition, at least one of the product chambers A, B is provided with a fluid connection with one of the other product chambers A, B. The packaging system diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 is in the storage condition. In order to get from the storage condition to the mixing condition, the openable closing element 3 needs to be brought into an opening position. In the embodiment shown, to this end, the release means 9 is pulled in the direction of arrow P. As a result, a fluid connection (not shown in detail) between the pressure chamber C and a driving position 7 is created. The propellant which has been included in the pressure chamber C under a relatively high pressure will flow through the fluid connection (not shown in detail) to the driving position 7. From this driving position, optionally, with a pressure regulator (not shown in detail in Fig. 1), the first predetermined pressure can be applied in the product chamber B. A suitable device for realizing at least the first predetermined pressure with the aid of a propellant included in a pressure chamber is described in the non-prior published application NL 1021544 of applicant, which is understood to be inserted herein by reference. In such a device, use is made of a reference pressure on the basis of which the fluid connection between the pressure chamber C and the driving position 7 is regulated. When the pressure in the product chamber of the first type B is lower than the reference pressure, which will be the case in a preferred embodiment in the storage condition, due to this difference in pressure, a passage (not shown in detail) from the pressure chamber C to the driving position is released. On the basis of the reference pressure, the passage can be released, for instance with the aid of a plunger and in a gas thus enclosed in a volume. However, it is also possible that, instead of an enclosed gas, a spring or another compressible device or compressible medium is used. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the first predetermined pressure is applied by moving disk 5 in the direction of arrow D with the aid of the propellant. Disk 5 closely abuts the inner walls 11 of product chamber B. As a result of the moving of disk 5 in the direction of arrow D, the volume of the product chamber B will decrease and the pressure in the product chamber B will, as a result, increase. It will be clear that the propellant in the pressure chamber C cannot contact the flowable component in the product chamber B during this. The closing element 3 will thus be pressed out of the dividing wall 4 in the direction of arrow O. In this manner, a fluid connection is created between product chamber A and product chamber B. The packaging system is thus in the mixing condition. The fluid connection extends from product chamber B through product chamber A to the outlet opening 1. Instead of disk 5, also, a bag or a bellows may be used which is filled by the propellant when the propellant is released from the pressure chamber C. By filling the bellows or bag with propellant, the pressure in the product chamber of the first type is increased to at least the first predetermined pressure, upon which the closing element 3 is brought into the opened condition, or even to at least the second predetermined pressure, so that the component of the first type flows to the product chamber of the second type via the opening formed by removing the closing element in the dividing wall 4. It is also possible that the product chamber of the first type is formed by a bag or a bellows in which the component of the first type has been included. In the product chamber of the first type, the pressure is increased by a pressure of the propellant exerted on an outside of the bag or bellows. Such variants are described in the non -prior published application NL 1022456 of applicant, which is understood to be inserted herein by reference. As already stated, it is possibly to apply a second predetermined pressure in the product chamber B with the aid of driving means 6. This second predetermined pressure is sufficiently high to drive the flowable component of a first type included in product chamber B in use out of product chamber B. To this end, the disk 5 is further moved in the direction of arrow D under the influence of the propellant and with the aid of the driving means. In use, in product chamber A, a flowable component of the first type will be included and, in product chamber B, a flowable component of a second type will be included. In the mixing condition, these two flowable components of the first type and of the second type can contact each other and mix with each other. Preferably, the volume of the second of the at least two product chambers, product chamber A, is at least equal to the volume of the first of the two product chambers, product chamber B, in the storage condition. It is, however, also possible that the volume of the second of the at least two product chambers, product chamber A, is at least equal to the volume of the first of the at least two product chambers, product chamber B, in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable components of the second type. It is further possible that the volume of the second of the at least two product chambers, product chamber A, is at least equal to the volume of the first of the at least two product chambers, product chamber B, in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable component of the second type plus an extra volume. The outlet opening 1 is closable in the storage condition. However, it is also possible for the outlet opening 1 to be closable in the mixing condition. In the embodiment drawn, the product chamber A and the product chamber B are fixedly connected. However, it is not inconceivable that the system has a two-part design. Then, each part can comprise at least one of the two product chambers. Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention. In this example, the packaging system N is provided with at least two product chambers of the first type B which are, in the mixing condition, each provided with a fluid connection with at least one product chamber of the second type A. The disk 5 is provided with two plungers 10 which, upon a movement of the disks in the direction of arrow D, each increase the pressure in one of the product chambers B. The manner in which the disk 5 is moved in the direction of arrow D with the aid of a propellant may be analogous to the manner in which this takes place in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Upon the realizing of a first predetermined pressure in each product chamber B, the closing elements 3 in the dividing wall 4 will be moved in the direction of arrow O so that a fluid connection between each product chamber B and the product chamber A is brought about. When the disk 5 is moved further in the direction of arrow D, from each product chamber B, a component included therein may flow to product chamber A. Here, of course, mixing occurs of a component included in product chamber A in the storage condition with components included in the product chambers B in the storage condition. In this embodiment shown, it is even possible that the dividing wall 4 is also movable in the direction of arrow O. Preferably, in this case, the moving of the dividing wall 4 does not take place until the plungers 10 have each been pressed against a side of the dividing wall 4 facing the product chamber B or at least have arrived near it. A result of the moving of the dividing wall 4 in the direction of the arrow O is that the components mixed with each other in product chamber A will now be driven out of the outlet opening 1 under pressure. For a good sealing between the walls along which the plungers slide and the plungers themselves, O-rings 12 may have been provided in the plunger edge. Such O-rings 12 may also have been provided in an edge of the disk 5 and, optionally, in the edge of the dividing wall 4. With the aid of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, it is possible to have more than two components mix with each other. The sizes of the product chambers A and B can be adapted to each other such that the proportions in which the components are to mix with each other will be realized. It is, for instance, also possible that the two product chambers B have mutually different volume contents. It is of course also possible that the dividing wall 4, as shown in Fig. 1, is movable in the direction of arrow O after a component has flown from product chamber B into product chamber A under the influence of the pressure exerted on the product chamber B with the aid of disk 5 and has mixed with the component present in product chamber A in the storage condition. It is not excluded either that a plurality of product chambers A are included in the packaging system. For instance, a dividing wall 4a may have been provided in the packaging system, such as indicated by the broken line in Fig. 2. In this case, the dividing wall 4 needs to be movable in the direction of arrow O. Optionally, the dividing wall 4a may also be movable in the direction of the outlet opening 1. Such a dividing wall 4a could also have been provided in the embodiment of the packaging system according to the invention shown in Fig. 1. The first predetermined pressure in a product chamber at which the closing element 3, 3a provided in the dividing wall is brought into an opened condition mainly depends on the extent to which the closing element is clamped in the dividing wall. For realizing a difference between the pressure needed to bring the closing element 3 into the opened condition and move the dividing wall 4, or 4a in the direction of arrow O, the closing element 3, 3a may also have been provided against an outer edge of a side of the dividing wall 4, 4a facing the outlet opening 1. In the storage condition, the closing element can be maintained in a closed condition by a pressure applied in product chamber A. Upon realizing a pressure in product chamber B which is higher than the pressure in product chamber A, the closing element will be brought into the opened condition. Upon realizing a much higher pressure, a movable dividing wall 4, 4a will move in the direction of arrow O. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the driving means 6 may also be provided with one or two bellows by means of which each of the product chambers B is reduced under the influence of the propellant with the aid of the driving means in order to increase the pressure in product chambers B. Instead of a bellows, optionally, an inflatable balloon may also be used. As already indicated before, it is also possible that the product chambers B themselves are substantially formed by a bag or bellows. It is further possible for the dividing wall 4 itself to form an openable closing element 3. In this case, the dividing wall is, for instance, manufactured from paper or plastic which can tear open. The packaging system may be manufactured such that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are fixedly connected with each other. It is possible, however, that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are detachably connected. It is further possible that the driving means are . detachably connected with at least the product chamber of the first type. Exclusively mechanically driven driving means are also possible. The driving means can be designed in many manners. Such embodiments are also understood to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A packaging system for separately storing at least two flowable components which in use are to flow jointly from the packaging system, wherein the packaging system comprises at least two product chambers closable with respect to each other and an outlet opening, wherein the packaging system can assume at least one storage condition and one mixing condition, wherein, in the storage condition, each product chamber is closed with respect to the other product chamber and wherein, in the mixing condition, at least one of the product chambers is provided with a fluid connection with at least one of the other product chambers, wherein the packaging system is provided with at least one dividing wall located between the at least two product chambers, which dividing wall is provided with an openable closing element for bringing about the fluid connection, wherein the packaging system is further provided with driving means for applying, in at least one of the product chambers, a first predetermined pressure which is sufficiently high to bring the closing element into an opened condition, characterized in that the driving means are provided with a pressure chamber for storing propellant with the aid of which the first predetermined pressure can be applied.

2. A packaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid connection extends at least from at least one product chamber of the first type through at least one product chamber of the second type to an outlet opening, wherein the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber each are one product chamber of the at least two product chambers.

3. A packaging system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driving means are provided with a release means for releasing the gas from the pressure chamber for the purpose of building up at least the first predetermined pressure in the product chamber of the first type.

4. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims 2-3, characterized in that the driving means are also arranged for applying, in the product chamber of the first type, a second predetermined pressure which is sufficiently high to drive a flowable component of a first type present in the product chamber of the first type out of the product chamber of the first type.

5. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet opening is closable in the storage condition.

6. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet opening is closable in the mixing condition.

7. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims 2-6, characterized in that, in the product chamber of the first type, a flowable component of a first type has been included and, in the product chamber of the second type, a flowable component of a second type has been included.

8. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition.

9. A packaging system according to claim 8, characterized in that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable component of the second type in the storage condition.

10. A packaging system according to claim 9, characterized in that the volume of the product chamber of the second type is at least equal to the volume of the product chamber of the first type in the storage condition plus the volume of the flowable component of the second type in the storage condition plus an extra volume.

11. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are fixedly connected with each other.

12. A packaging system according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the product chamber of the first type and the product chamber of the second type are detachably connected with each other.

13. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving means are detachably connected with at least the product chamber of the first type.

14. A packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging system is provided with at least two product chambers of the first type which are, in the mixing condition, each provided with a fluid connection with at least one product chamber of the second type.