WO2009098194A1 - Sachet étanche aux liquides avec propriétés d'évacuation améliorées - Google Patents

Sachet étanche aux liquides avec propriétés d'évacuation améliorées Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009098194A1
WO2009098194A1 PCT/EP2009/051181 EP2009051181W WO2009098194A1 WO 2009098194 A1 WO2009098194 A1 WO 2009098194A1 EP 2009051181 W EP2009051181 W EP 2009051181W WO 2009098194 A1 WO2009098194 A1 WO 2009098194A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pouch
liquid
channels
walls
casing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2009/051181
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Richard Garnett
Roy Metcalf
Detlef DÖHNERT
Original Assignee
Wisdom Agricultural (Investments) Ltd.
Basf Se
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wisdom Agricultural (Investments) Ltd., Basf Se filed Critical Wisdom Agricultural (Investments) Ltd.
Publication of WO2009098194A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009098194A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/02—Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames
    • 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
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/04—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another
    • B65D77/06—Liquids or semi-liquids or other materials or articles enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers
    • B65D77/062—Flexible containers disposed within polygonal containers formed by folding a carton blank
    • B65D77/065—Spouts, pouring necks or discharging tubes fixed to or integral with the flexible container
    • B65D77/067—Spouts, pouring necks or discharging tubes fixed to or integral with the flexible container combined with a valve, a tap or a piercer
    • 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
    • B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
    • B65D2231/001—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being a bag
    • B65D2231/002—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being a bag comprising strips forming channels or liquid passageways
    • 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
    • B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
    • B65D2231/001—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being a bag
    • B65D2231/004—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being a bag comprising rods or tubes provided with radial openings, ribs or the like, e.g. dip-tubes, spiral rods

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid-tight pouch comprising means for separating areas of the inner surface of the pouch in a deflated condition. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a packaging assembly for liquids comprising a casing having at least one opening, a valve assembly mounted in the opening of said casing, and a liquid-tight pouch for accommodating the liquids, said pouch being housed in the casing and connected to the valve assembly. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of a liquid-tight pouch as mentioned-above. Modern industry uses large quantities of a wide variety of chemical products, for example different sorts of pesticides. Thus, the availability of suitable containers for shipping and handling chemicals, in particular liquid agricultural chemicals, is of crucial importance to the marketing and application of such chemicals.
  • a suitable container It must be tightly sealable and leak-proof during storage and handling in order to avoid loss of contents; it must be of a mechanical structure and of a shape to allow easy and preferably at least partly mechanized handling, shipping and storage; it must permit ready and reliable access to the contents; it must be capable of being drained efficiently, without a tendency to retain excessive residual amounts of the contents; and it must be suitable for recycling, processing, recovery or other kinds of economically and ecologically reasonable disposal after emptying.
  • the container should also be lightweight, using minimal raw materials, economical for mass production, and it should also permit simple labelling and identification of its contents.
  • a widely used conventional type of packaging basically has the form of a rigid, or semi-rigid, container of which sundry variations are well-known to packaging manufacturers and end users.
  • This inflexible form has a number of inherent disadvantages, which are likewise familiar to those skilled in the pertinent art.
  • Some traditional rigid packaging systems used with viscous products are prone to retain large residual amounts of the contents.
  • Pouches including sacks or bags represent a widely used alternative.
  • Pouches may be manufactured from flat sheets of material, frequently in the form of fabricated envelopes, welded together as appropriate to the intended use. The surfaces of selected pouch materials must be suitable to form welds with sufficient strength and excellent sealing. Such materials are generally known in the art.
  • these materials show a potential to retain contents of the pouch when opposing surfaces move close to each other during the emptying process, generally resulting in incom- plete draining. Apart from the retention of contents directly incurred that can not be accessed by the user, this poses an additional problem when it comes to recycling the pouch, as processing of the pouch is easier and less expensive if they contain minimal residues before passing into the normal recycling process. When the pouch deflates and approaches complete emptying, creases and folds will form.
  • creases and folds are particularly likely to retain significant amounts of the contents, which are thus lost for use and pose a major problem in recycling, in particular when the folding occurs in such a way that the space enclosed by the crease or fold essentially loses contact with the main fluid body of the flowable pouch contents and the exit routes from the pouch.
  • These isolated regions of content residues in the separated regions cannot be extracted from the pouch without rearrangement of the collapsed pouch.
  • Pouches may be advantageously used with a surrounding rigid container, thereby forming a so-called "bag-in-drum” system.
  • WO2004/083070 describes a bag-in-drum system wherein a pouch is placed inside a rigid shell.
  • These containers comprise a pouch made of flexible material, and advantageously a rigid outer box in which the pouch is contained.
  • the inner pouch includes a valve or outlet and the outer, rigid container an opening so that the valve or outlet is placed or mounted in the gap or hole, thereby allowing access to the contents of the flexible inner container.
  • valve or outlet is generally placed at the lowest position possible, thereby allowing gravity-assisted draining.
  • This arrangement is not always acceptable for the handling of large quantities of substances such as agrochemicals that are required to be extracted quickly and particularly in applications where closed connection and transfer are an advantage.
  • the valve or outlet should be placed at the highest position possible, using a controllable pressure differential, pref- erably suction, for controlled discharge of the contents, e. g. via a dip tube which is inserted through the valve, or which is a part of said valve.
  • a rearrangement of the pouch as described might be performed, for example, by re-inflating the pouch with air or an inert gas, resulting in stretching of the folds and creases and subsequent displacement of the residual contents from the trapped zones if a second extraction process is actioned.
  • Some commonly used extraction apparatuses for emptying pouches by suction may be poorly suited to creating a sufficiently large pressure differential.
  • this approach involves the dangers of rupture and aerosol formation, both of which are highly undesirable with some products, for example agrochemicals.
  • water may be used to actually rinse residues from the pouch.
  • U.S. 5,073,002 describes a self-supporting liquid dispensing container comprising a reinforcing body assembly including reinforcing panels which are hinged to each other in such a manner that when a fluid is introduced between the panels, the panels self-erect to form a liquid-reinforcing structure for containing fluid.
  • the container comprises an inflatable, flexible bag defining a sealed liquid-containing compartment.
  • the reinforcing panels may include a plurality of fins extending along an interior surface of the reinforcing panel. The fins serve a dual purpose as they add rigidity to the reinforcing panel as well as allowing drainage of the liquid during dispensing. Although such fins define channels therebetween for drainage bag collapse, significant amounts of residues may still remain within the container so that complete emptying of the container cannot be guaranteed.
  • the pouch shall in particular be used in a design where a pressure difference is used for the discharge of the liquid contained within the pouch.
  • a pouch comprising the features of claim 1 and a packaging assembly compris- ing the features of claim 19 solve this problem.
  • Particular embodiments are as described in the dependent claims.
  • the present invention thus relates to a liquid-tight pouch comprising means for separating areas of the inner surface of the pouch in a deflated or collapsed condition, wherein the separated areas forming a coherent system of channels, wherein said channels are aligned at least partly non-parallel to each other.
  • the term ,pouch is used to refer to a flexible container that is characterized by its ability to increase its enclosed volume on filling and to collapse upon draining. In this collapsed condition, opposed inner surfaces of the pouch may come into contact with each other.
  • the term Jnner surface is used to refer to those surfaces of the pouch that are brought into direct contact with the contents thereof.
  • the term ..deflated is used to refer to a condition of the pouch wherein the pouch is no longer fully extended by its contents' internal pressure, allowing the pouch to sag. It will be understood that this entails the possibility of trapping significant amounts of liquid by enclosure within creases or folds formed by the pouch wall, which may be promoted by a high degree of adhesion of the liquid to the pouch walls.
  • the term ,,collapsed is used to refer to a condition of the pouch wherein the internal pressure of the contents essentially does not contribute to the shape of the pouch any more; thus, the collapse of the pouch is to be understood as the final stage of deflation.
  • channel is used to refer to any local depression of the pouch surface, i. e. to any point of the surface of said pouch which is positioned beneath the average, i. e. further on the side of the solid matter forming the pouch wall than the root mean square of all points of the surface.
  • the term ..coherent system of channels is used to refer to an arrangement of structures in the pouch, which may serve as conduits for liquid, and in which said liquid may travel freely from any point of said arrangement to any other point.
  • the coherent system of channels comprises channels which are aligned at least partly non-parallel to each other, the draining rate may be raised when the pouch is deflated. Furthermore, almost complete emptying of the pouch is promoted by this particular arrangement of the channels within the collapsed pouch.
  • said coherent channel system leads to the point or points from which products are discharged from the pouch.
  • the term , point of discharge is used to refer to any place where the liquid effectively leaves the pouch environment so that its further behaviour cannot be influenced by the properties of the pouch any longer.
  • the point of discharge is an opening or outlet within the wall of the pouch; in another, a dip tube inserted into the pouch through such an opening, which is preferably located at the uppermost portion of said pouch, as described above.
  • Multiple points of discharge may be used in parallel. In this case, conductive cross-connections between the channel systems leading to the individual points of discharge may exist or not exist.
  • said separating means creates channels in the pouch walls before or during, preferably during the deflation or collapse of the pouch.
  • the separating means comprises a plurality of mounds integrated into the pouch walls.
  • the term ..integrated is used to refer to denote a system of structures that form an inseparable portion of the pouch wall.
  • the term “mound” is used to refer to any local elevation of the pouch surface, i. e. to any point of the surface of said pouch which is positioned above the average, i. e. further on the side of the interior of the pouch which is holding the contents than the root mean square of all points of the surface.
  • both channels and mounds are defined in relation to the average surface.
  • a pouch having a flat wall i. e. not having mounds, will not form channels in a deflated or collapsed condition resulting in the risk to trap residual liquid.
  • Opposite portions of the pouch wall may approach to a degree resulting in rheological significance, i. e. both of them influence the motion of the contents in between, preferably to such a degree that at least parts of said portions are in direct contact with each other.
  • the structures surrounding and defining a channel may further include said part or portion of the opposite pouch wall which preferably serves as a "ceiling" to form a tunnel-like channel structure. This part or portion of the opposite wall of the pouch may be a channel or part thereof, or it may be a mound or part thereof.
  • the surface areas to be considered as channels and mounds do not have to be equal in size, but the profile may consist either of wide, shal- low depressions and narrow, peaking ridges or spikes or, alternatively and preferably, of wide, flat mounds separated by narrow but definable channels.
  • the plurality of mounds is a relief structure of the pouch walls, more preferably a relief structure.
  • the relief structure is formed by gas-filled blisters within the pouch wall.
  • Such relief structures comprising gas-filled blisters are often referred to under designations such as "bubble foils", “bubble wraps”, or the like.
  • the term ,blister is used to refer to any structure, swell or other protrusion of the pouch surface.
  • the structure may be formed by the pouch material itself or may be introduced to the sub-surface by inclusion of materials similar to or dif- ferent from the pouch material.
  • These blisters can be filled with any suitable flexible solid, gel, liquid or gas, more preferably an essentially inert gas such as nitrogen or argon or, most preferably, air.
  • an essentially inert gas such as nitrogen or argon or, most preferably, air.
  • the mechanical strength of the pouch wall within an area comprising a blister will not be significantly different from an area not comprising a blister so that the introduction of blisters does not produce mechanical weaknesses in the pouch wall.
  • the blisters may be circular or elongated in shape and may be distributed over the surface of the pouch basically in any suitable arrangement. Expediently, a stag- gered, essentially hexagonal arrangement may be used, wherein the percentage of the surface that is not reached by the channels is minimized.
  • the profile will thus be characterized by wide, flat, isolated mounds formed by said blisters and separated by the narrower intervals between the blisters, which are arranged in a coherent system and are thus capable of forming a mostly non-linear and non-parallel but coherent channel system.
  • the skilled artisan will understand that in the critical phase of draining opposite walls of the pouch may touch (during the collapse of the pouch) and be pressed against each other, thereby altering the flexible profile while at the same time forcing residual amounts of product from the structured areas down into the designed channels. It is preferred that the channel system is not obstructed as the dispense progresses as this will reduce product flow.
  • blisters with sufficient internal resilience to retain their flattened spherical shape, as even the closest possible packing of spherical bodies will still leave a fully coherent system of voids in between.
  • Such blister foils and methods for their manufacture are well known to the person skilled in the art.
  • they can be produced by forming two sheets of a suitable material using a template representing the relief structure to be produced, or by forming a single sheet using said template and the other in plain flat shape, followed by gluing or welding together the two sheets in such a way that a com- pound structure enclosing "gas bubbles" is formed, wherein the gas trapped within the blisters is derived from the surrounding atmosphere.
  • the relief side of the compound structure is preferably used as the inside of the pouch formed therefrom.
  • the process of gluing or welding together the two sheets is performed under an atmosphere of higher than normal atmospheric pressure so that after formation of the compound structure the blisters will be kept in shape by positive internal pressure.
  • internal pressure in the blisters is positive in relation to the maximal external pressure affecting the pouch during draining, e. g. posi- tive in relation to normal atmospheric pressure.
  • the blisters do not cover the entire area of the compound structure but leave a plain margin without any significant amount of blisters which is capable of establishing contact with another surface and is thus suitable for the manufacture of the pouch by any known technique of producing a closure which requires a partial overlap of surfaces, such as welding or gluing. These techniques are well known in the art.
  • the separating means is a structure provided on the pouch walls.
  • the structure may for example be a convolution of at least one of the pouch walls.
  • the structure may comprise convolutions of two pouch walls being opposite in a collapsed condition of the pouch, wherein the convolution of one pouch wall lies in dissimilar direction on the convolution of the other pouch wall so that two non-parallel channel systems that are connected to each other are formed. In any case a coherent system of channels is still provided.
  • the separating means is a structure provided separately from the pouch walls.
  • the structure may further be fixed within the interior of the pouch.
  • the fixture may be provided only at one fixing point or at sev- eral fixing points.
  • a standard pouch formed from materials well known in the art, has an extra structure or armature inserted between the inner surfaces.
  • This structure's function is to support the walls of the pouch as the surfaces move closer to each other as the pouch collapses during the product discharge process.
  • the structure is advantageously arranged to prevent trapped volumes of product forming and then providing conduits from the extremities of the inner pouch to the point of discharge.
  • the structure can be formed in a number of designs but all have the common element of providing a flow path to connect any trapped volumes of product to the point of discharge to ensure maximum drainage and minimum residues.
  • the structure can be formed from a multiplicity of cross sections ranging from crosswise, tubular, perforated tubular, semicircular, cruciform, triangular and multifac- eted.
  • the armature is a pre-formed conduit and in others it is a section that only becomes a conduit when the walls of the pouch are held close to the structure by the pressure differential between the internal pouch pressure and the pressure acting on the external surfaces of the pouch.
  • the structure is also envisaged as semi-rigid, optionally rigid, and flexible structures that are provided to match the particular requirements of the product, pouch material, outer casing and means of evacuation of the pouch.
  • Structures produced in a skeletal or 'herringbone' structure would be advantageously produced from materials that are flexible along the length of the structure but strong enough across the section to resist collapse from a pressure differential during dispense.
  • the flexibility in the length will allow the assembled pouch to be rolled or folded for insertion to an outer container.
  • the structure may be of a corrugated design with the corrugations aligned from the base of the pouch to the point of discharge. The corrugations will allow the structure to roll up with the pouch if inserted into an outer casing.
  • the corrugations will provide flow paths for liquid to move as the inner surfaces of the pouch collapse onto the crests of the corrugations on the structure surface.
  • the corru- gations will then connect the points remote from the point of discharge to the point of discharge and permit the majority of residues to be dispensed.
  • the structure and generally the separating means have secondary benefits as it will also have a degree of material memory. After rolling or folding the assembled pouch, to aid insertion to the outer container, the pouch needs to expand and occupy an ideal position in the outer casing. The memory effect of the armature will assist this process. In a further benefit the armature will also guide incoming liquid, as the pouch is filled, ensuring even and fast filling of the finished packaging assembly.
  • the structure is a tube having openings.
  • the pouch of the present invention may have one or more connection conduits) that is/are arranged within the pouch to receive and transport liquid from the channels and that is/are attached to the point of discharge.
  • the pouch further comprises a dip tube.
  • the dip tube comprises one or more openings placed at intervals along the length of the tube.
  • the openings of said dip tube may be functionally sequen- tial ("single conduit design"), i.e. all of them are connected to the same internal dispense conduit and thus communicate with each other.
  • the openings of said dip tube may be functionally parallel ("multiple conduit design"), i.e. each of them is connected to an individual internal transport cavity of its own and thus does not communicate with any other, even though at some point beyond the valve these cavities may be joined into one common conduit.
  • This design is more complex than the single conduit design but advantageous in that clogging of the entire tube is less likely to occur, and that there is no danger of liquid being spilled back into the pouch.
  • the structure of the separating means may be used with or without a dip tube. In particular, the structure may be formed by a dip tube.
  • the pouch has a volume of 0.1 I to 100 I, preferably of 0.5 to 50 I.
  • volume is used to denote the effective filled payload volume, which may be smaller than the total volume of the pouch, even though it is preferred to leave as little dead space as possible.
  • the material of said pouch is selected from at least one of polyethylene, syndiotactic, atactic and isotactic polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, coextrudates of polyethylene and/or polypropylene with polyamides, coextrudates of polyethylene and/or polypropylene with ethylene copolymers such as ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, ethylene vinylalcohol copolymers, coextrudates of polyethylene and/or polypropylene with polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylnitrile and styrene acrylnitrile; preferably polyethylene, polypropylene or coextrudates of polyethylene and/or polypropylene with ethylene compolymers such as eth- ylene vinylacetate copolymers, ethylene vinylalcohol copolymers.
  • ethylene copolymers such as ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, ethylene vinylalcohol copolymers, coextrudates of polyethylene and/or poly
  • the pouch may be manufactured in a number of ways which are, per se, known in the art, and which comprise appropriately cutting, folding and joining the foil, wherein the joining may again be performed in a number of ways which are, per se, known in the art, such as gluing or welding.
  • the pouch of the present invention is used for the storage of liquids.
  • the pouch may be used to store powders, micro granules and other flowable products.
  • the difference between the root mean square of the distance of all points of the protrusions from the root mean square of the distance of all bottoms of the depressions from the mean surface of the inner surface is smaller than the expected pendant drop diameter, which is determined by the particle size, viscosity and surface tension properties of the material contained by the pouch, of the pouch contents. Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is expected that this will help to prevent individual drop formation and thus favour continuous liquid flow over fragmentation of the fluid body and subsequent entrapment of portions of the liquid contents in the folds and creases.
  • the mean of the minimum free cross-sectional area of the channels is smaller than the expected pendant drop cross-sectional area of said liquids or other content, the rationale and purpose being as given above.
  • the average free cross-sectional area and average free diameter of each individual channel are large enough to permit essentially free movement of the molecules of the liquid or other content through said channels.
  • the terms “free cross-sectional area” and “free diameter” are used to denote the size, i. e. cross-sectional area and diameter, respectively, of a channel that is actually available for the liquid or content stream. Preferably, they are defined as the cross-sectional area and the diameter, respectively, of the channel as a whole minus the cross-sectional area and the diameter, respectively, of any potentially obstructive structures such as structures used for impressing depressions or channels into the pouch walls, e.g. beads-on-a-string or lattice-like additional elements.
  • the obstructive structures are selected from the group consisting of perforated tubular skeletal structures, herringbone support frames, U-section channels moulded in a framework and inserted as a free structure between the inner surfaces of the pouch, and any combination of these, as described above.
  • the minimum free cross-sectional area of the channels is at least the maximum cross-sectional area of the largest molecules, molecular aggregates or particles in the pouch contents, more preferably at least about ten times the maximum cross-sectional area of the largest molecules, molecular aggregates or particles in the pouch contents and even more preferably at least about a hundred times the maximum cross-sectional area of the largest molecules, molecular aggregates or parti- cles in the liquid, e. g.
  • the minimum free diameter of the channels is at least the maximum diameter of the largest molecules, molecular aggregates or particles in the liquid, more preferably at least about ten times the maximum diameter of the largest molecules, molecular aggregates or particles in the liquid and even more preferably at least about a hundred times the maximum diameter of the largest molecules or particles in the liquid, e. g. at least a thousand times the maximum diameter of the largest molecules or particles in the liquid.
  • molecular aggregate is used to denote any group of two or more molecules that are held together by mutually attractive forces such as ionic interactions, van der Waals forces etc. to such a degree that under the conditions of draining they essentially move as a single physical entity.
  • the minimum free cross-sectional area of the channels is at least about 0.01 mm 2 , e. g. at least about 0.04 mm 2 , such as at least about 0.25 mm 2 , in particular at least about 1 mm 2 , e. g. at least about 4 mm 2 , such as at least about 25 mm 2 , 100 mm 2 or 400 mm 2 ; and that the minimum free diameter of the channels is at least about 100 ⁇ m, e. g. at least about 200 ⁇ m, such as at least about 500 ⁇ m, in particular at least about 1 mm, e. g. at least about 2 mm, such as at least about 5 mm, 10 mm or 20 mm.
  • the invention further relates to a packaging assembly for liquids, said packaging assembly comprising a casing, preferably a rigid casing, having at least one opening; a valve assembly mounted in the opening of said casing; and a liquid-tight pouch for accommodating the liquids, said pouch being housed in the casing and connected to the valve assembly, wherein the liquid-tight pouch comprises means for separating areas of the inner surface of the pouch in a deflated or collapsed condition when the liquid is discharged, said separated areas forming a coherent system of channels.
  • the pouch of the packaging assembly has the further features of the pouch of the invention as mentioned above.
  • the channels are aligned at least partly non-parallel to each other.
  • the packaging assembly comprises a device for generating a pressure gradient between the space between the pouch and the casing on the one hand and the space inside the pouch on the other hand. It is to be understood that when positive pressure is built up within the casing in order to promote the draining of the pouch, the valve assembly is preferably airtight and pressure- resistant within the parameters to be used.
  • the pouch comprises a dip tube as mentioned above and the pressure gradient is established by applying suction to said dip tube. Expediently, this is done by means of a pump connected to the dip tube. Numerous designs of pumps suitable for this task are known in the art. The skilled person will readily select an appropriate one.
  • the pressure gradient may be established by apply- ing a positive pressure from outside the pouch.
  • the pouch is housed in a casing such as a rigid casing, positive pressure may be applied in the space between the pouch and the casing. It is to be understood that in this case the rigid casing and the fitting of the draining apparatus thereto must be airtight and pressure-resistant.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pouch of the invention in its liquid-filled condition
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pouch of the invention in its deflated condition, with residual liquid flows indicated;
  • Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show details of a channel system of an embodiment of the pouch in its collapsed condition, wherein Fig. 3a represents a cross-sectional (longitudinal) view whereas Fig. 3b shows the same embodiment as seen from above;
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a pouch of the invention.
  • Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b show a further embodiment of a pouch of the invention, wherein Fig. 5a shows one pouch wall turned back so that the opposite pouch wall can be viewed and Fig. 5b shows opposite pouch walls of the same embodiment;
  • Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b show cross-sectional views a further embodiment of a pouch of the invention.
  • Fig. 7a to Fig. 7f show a further embodiment of a pouch of the invention, wherein Fig. 7a shows a cross-sectional (longitudinal) view, Fig. 7b and Fig. 7c show detail A of a structure inside the pouch in a side view and a cross-sectional view, Fig. 7d shows the structure and the pouch walls in a collapsed condition, Fig. 7e shows an alternative structure, and Fig 7f shows the structure of Fig. 7e forming a dip tube; Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a packaging assembly of the invention comprising a liquid-filled pouch as a part of a bag-in-drum design;
  • Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b show two designs of the dip tube.
  • Fig. 10a and Fig. 10b show cross-sectional views of two embodiments of the draining apparatus of the invention operatively attached to an embodiment of a packaging assembly of the invention as shown in Fig. 8.
  • FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a pouch of the invention is depicted as a whole with the reference numeral 100, seen in a cross-sectional view.
  • the reference numeral 100 seen in a cross-sectional view.
  • it is used as a stand-alone container for liquid contents 106. It is presented in its com- pletely filled condition, i. e. with the maximum payload it was designed for. In this condition, a small portion of the volume may be or may not be gas-filled.
  • the wall 101 of the pouch 100 comprises a plurality of gas-filled blisters 102.
  • a single opening at the topmost position of the pouch which can be obtained by cutting, punch- ing or any other means known in the art, is plugged with a valve assembly 105, which may be of any design as long as it permits the introduction of a dip tube 103 comprising at least one opening 104. Using this tube, the liquid contents 106 of the pouch may be drained.
  • the pouch shown in Figure 1 may, for example, be discharged by applying a negative pressure to the outside opening of the valve-assembly 105 so that the liquid contents 106 are drained through the dip tube 103. As any compensation fluid may not come into the pouch 100 while discharging the pouch 100, the inside volume encompassed by the pouch valve 101 will be reduced.
  • the aforementioned embodiment of the pouch 100 seen as above, is presented in a deflated, albeit not (yet) collapsed condition, wherein liquid volume is reduced.
  • the pouch 100 will usually collapse, either in its entirety or partially.
  • opposite portions of the inner surface of the pouch walls 101 or of folds created within the pouch walls 101 will come into contact with each other.
  • known pouches tend to form zones with trapped residue liquid which cannot be drained out of the pouch.
  • the pouch valve 101 prevents the formation of such zones of trapped content.
  • the blisters 102 provide mounds that separate areas of the inner surface of the pouch 100 in a deflated or collapsed condition so that a coherent system of channels 310 is formed.
  • the channels are aligned at least partly non-parallel to each other. Therefore, residual trapped volumes formed by contacting inner surfaces of the pouch valve 101 may not be formed so that the whole content of the pouch 1 can be drained. Additionally, the fact that the channels are aligned at least partly non-parallel to each other improves the conductive properties of the channels 310. This can be seen more clearly at closer range, as in Fig. 3.
  • Figs. 3a and 3b show the details of a pouch wall 101 comprising, as protrusions or elevations collectively forming the relief structure, a plurality of "bubbles" consisting of gas- filled blisters 102 wherein a gas 202 such as air is trapped within the plastic material 203 of the pouch wall 101 (Figs. 3a depicts a cross-section, 3b shows a view from above). Therefore, the relief structure acts as separating means for separating areas of the inner surface of the pouch 100 in its deflated or collapsed condition. The relief structure thereby forms the coherent system of channels 310.
  • Fig. 3a corresponds to the pouch or pouch section in its collapsed condition.
  • the liquid flow relative to the structures of one pouch wall 101 towards the point of discharge 104, which may be an opening of the dip tube 103, will be as indicated in Fig. 3c by arrows 201.
  • the pouch wall 101 is expediently made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • LDPE low-density polyethylene
  • the wall 101 consists of two layers or sheets of LDPE foil cast to an average thickness of e.g.
  • the blisters 102 obtained after welding by local heating to approxi- mately 105 0 C, are scalene ellipsoids with an elliptical base area shape having a minor axis length of about 50 mm and a major axis length of about 100 mm, and have an apex-to-apex height of about 40 mm in the absence of external pressure; hence the average height of the protrusions or elevations is about 20 mm.
  • the pouch is manufactured from said bubble wrap in such a way that in the vertically oriented portions, i. e. the sides of the pouch, the major axes of the blisters' base areas are aligned perpendicularly.
  • the free cross-sectional area of each individual channel in the collapsed condition will be at least about 3000 mm 2 (corresponding to an effective free channel diameter of about 50 to about 60 mm), thus yielding a total cross-sectional area of the channels ranging from about 400 to about 800 cm 2 , depending on the overall geometry of the pouch, which is assumed to be basically oblong.
  • a dip tube 103 comprising at least three to five openings at roughly equal distance from each other.
  • Said dip tube 103 is expediently manufactured from high-density polyethylene, has a circular cross-section with a radius of about 100 mm, a length matching the height of the pouch 100 in its filled condition and the given number of openings which have a cross-sectional area commensurate with the viscosity and surface adhesion of the liquid.
  • the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the dip tube 103 corresponds to the total cross-sectional area of the channels 310; thus, with a total of five openings, each of them expediently corresponds to an area of 80 - 160 cm 2 , conveniently a rectangular punch hole of 8 cm x 12 cm.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross section of another example of this embodiment wherein the position of mounds or blisters 102 formed on the inner surface are indicated.
  • FIG. 5a and 5b areas of the inner surface of the pouch 100 in a deflated or collapsed condi- tion are separated by a structure 1 10 provided on the pouch walls 101.
  • the structure 1 10 which is provided on the inner surface of the pouch valve 101 comprises convolutions of two pouch walls 101 being opposite to each other in the collapsed condition of the pouch 100.
  • Figure 5a shows the directions of the convolutions of the structure 110.
  • the convolution of one pouch wall 101 is perpendicular to the convolution of the oppo- site pouch wall 101.
  • Figure 5b shows in detail how the coherent system of channels 310 is formed in the collapsed condition of the pouch 100.
  • FIG. 6a shows a cross-sectional view while Figure 6b shows a cross-sectional view through line x-y of Figure 6a.
  • the structure 110 is formed by indentations, which are provided on the inner surfaces of the pouch walls 101. These indentations form non-parallel coherent channels 310.
  • the areas of the inner surface of the pouch 100 in a deflated or collapsed condition are separated by a structure 120, which is provided separately from the pouch walls 110. However, it may also be fixed, for example, above the assembly 105.
  • the structure 120 comprises several arms extending from the bottom of the pouch 100 to the top. In the lower portion of the pouch 100, the arms are parallel to each other. However, in the upper part, the arms are non-parallel to each other and converge at the discharge opening, which is at the valve assembly 105 in this case.
  • the arms are connected to each other by lateral arms, which extend in a direction es- sentially perpendicular to the arms extending from the lower portion of the pouch 100 to the upper portion of the pouch 100.
  • Figure 7b shows detail A of Figure 7a.
  • Figure 7c shows the cross section of the arms of the structure 120, said cross section being crosswise.
  • the structure 120 also acts as an armature for the pouch 100 in the deflated or collapsed condition.
  • the pouch walls 101 will closely embrace the crosswise structure 120.
  • the pouch walls 101 will contact each other.
  • the crosswise cross section of the structure 120 will form the co- herent system of channels 310 which guarantees that the pouch 100 can be emptied almost entirely.
  • Figure 7e shows an alternative structure 120.
  • the structure 120 is a tube having several openings.
  • the structure 120 may have further cross sections ranging from tubular, perforated tubular, semi-circular, cruciform, triangular and multifaceted.
  • Figure 7f shows a further alternative design of this structure 120, wherein the structure 120 comprises arms of tubular design as shown in Figure 7e, said arms forming several dip tubes connected to the valve assembly 105.
  • the structure 120 will also act as a dip tube.
  • the pouch 100 of the first embodiment can be mounted in a rigid outer shell or casing 400 to create a packaging assembly in a bag-in-drum design.
  • the pouch 100 and the rigid outer casing 400 are co-designed in such a way that the valve assembly 105 integrated into the pouch 100 can be mounted into a corresponding opening 401 in the rigid outer casing, thereby both spatially fixing the pouch and enabling easy access to its contents.
  • the overall design of the packaging assembly may be basically the same as described in WO 2006/056461 A2, with the flexible liner described therein being replaced with the pouch 100 disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figs. 9a and 9b display two designs of dip tubes which may be used in the pouch 100 of the first embodiment or in the packaging assembly of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9a shows a sequential design (herein also referred to as "single conduit type") tube 500 introduced through a valve or gasket 510 into the liquid and comprising a plurality of openings 520 in sequential arrangement, through which the liquid is drawn in and upwards in the dip tube 500 when suction is applied to the dip tube 500 or external pressure exerted on the liquid 106.
  • the gasket 510 may correspond to the valve assembly 105 of the first embodiment.
  • Fig. 9b shows a parallel design (herein also referred to as “multiple conduit type”) tube 501 introduced through the valve or gasket 510 into the liquid and comprising a plurality of openings 521 in parallel arrangement but further upward joined to a common tube 522, through which the liquid 106 is drawn in and upwards in the tube when suction is applied to the dip tube 501 or external pressure exerted on the liquid 106.
  • multiple conduit type a parallel design
  • dip tubes of both designs 500 and 501 may also be used independently of the pouch 100 and the packaging assembly of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10a shows an embodiment of a draining apparatus which may be used in combination with the pouch 100 of the first embodiment or the packaging assembly of the fourth embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 10b shows another embodiment of a draining apparatus which may be used in combination with the packaging assembly of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Both are depicted in operative associa- tion with a packaging assembly of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10a shows a design wherein suction, produced by a device for creating a pressure gradient 600, is used for draining the pouch 100 or packaging assembly.
  • the draining apparatus comprises tubing or hose 601 made of flexible material that is in liquid-tight connection with the dip tube 103 during operation but may otherwise be detached from the dip tube.
  • the tubing or hose 601 forms a part of a peristaltic pumping system comprising a plurality of cylinders 603 mounted on a rotating, e.g. motorized, disk or wheel 602.
  • Fig. 10b shows a design wherein external pressure, produced by a device for creating a pressure gradient 600, is exerted on the pouch in order to force the liquid 106 contained therein into the dip tube 103 and upwards.
  • the dip tube 103 is not associated with any pumping system, even though it may be in liquid-tight connection with a pipe, tubing or hose 601 acting as an outlet for the draining apparatus.
  • the valve apparatus further comprises a conduit for air 702, which is in airtight and pressure-stable connection with another tubing or hose 703 which forms a part of a peristaltic pumping system comprising a plurality of cylinders 603 mounted on a rotat- ing, e. g. motorized, disk or wheel 602, similar to that in the first design.
  • the tubing or hose 703 has an open connection to free airspace, and the valve assembly further forms an airtight and pressure-resistant connection 701 with the rigid outer shell or casing 400.
  • the liquid discharged from the draining apparatus via the tubing or hose 601 may be used immediately or collected in any other system which may be attached directly or indirectly to the draining apparatus, which may be housed in a separate casing 604 which is expediently designed to be easily placed on top of the rigid outer casing 400, by be- ing fitted into the opening 401 thereof and/or the valve assembly 105.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention porte sur un sachet étanche aux liquides (100), comprenant des moyens pour séparer des zones de la surface interne du sachet (100) dans un état dégonflé ou aplati. Le sachet étanche aux liquides (100) selon la présente invention est caractérisé par le fait que lesdites zones séparées forment un système cohérent de canaux (310), lesdits canaux étant alignés au moins partiellement de façon non parallèle les uns par rapport aux autres. La présente invention porte en outre sur l'utilisation d'un tel sachet. De plus, la présente invention porte sur un ensemble d'emballage pour des liquides (106), comprenant un boîtier (400) comportant au moins une ouverture (401), un ensemble de soupape (105) monté dans l'ouverture (401) dudit boîtier (400) et un sachet étanche aux liquides tel que décrit ci-dessus.
PCT/EP2009/051181 2008-02-04 2009-02-03 Sachet étanche aux liquides avec propriétés d'évacuation améliorées WO2009098194A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08151028 2008-02-04
EP08151028.1 2008-02-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009098194A1 true WO2009098194A1 (fr) 2009-08-13

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ID=40627649

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2009/051181 WO2009098194A1 (fr) 2008-02-04 2009-02-03 Sachet étanche aux liquides avec propriétés d'évacuation améliorées

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2009098194A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD813385S1 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-03-20 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Fluid conduit transfer tip
USD814025S1 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-03-27 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Fluid conduit transfer tip
US9944510B2 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-04-17 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Conduit terminus and related fluid transport system and method
US11014801B2 (en) 2017-11-10 2021-05-25 Pentair Flow Technologies, Llc Coupler for use in a closed transfer system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0628494A2 (fr) * 1993-06-08 1994-12-14 Riso Kagaku Corporation Récipient pour liquides
GB2295373A (en) * 1994-11-18 1996-05-29 Hosokawa Yoko Kk A bag and a box for a bag-in-box
US5566851A (en) * 1990-04-11 1996-10-22 Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid container and mouth thereof
GB2331065A (en) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-12 Gr Advanced Materials Ltd Flexible pouch for highly viscous liquids
WO2001051373A1 (fr) * 2000-01-11 2001-07-19 Ahn Ho Sung Poche a syphonnage facile
US20030205583A1 (en) * 2000-04-13 2003-11-06 Provenza Frank L. Collapsible container for liquids

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5566851A (en) * 1990-04-11 1996-10-22 Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid container and mouth thereof
EP0628494A2 (fr) * 1993-06-08 1994-12-14 Riso Kagaku Corporation Récipient pour liquides
GB2295373A (en) * 1994-11-18 1996-05-29 Hosokawa Yoko Kk A bag and a box for a bag-in-box
GB2331065A (en) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-12 Gr Advanced Materials Ltd Flexible pouch for highly viscous liquids
WO2001051373A1 (fr) * 2000-01-11 2001-07-19 Ahn Ho Sung Poche a syphonnage facile
US20030205583A1 (en) * 2000-04-13 2003-11-06 Provenza Frank L. Collapsible container for liquids

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD813385S1 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-03-20 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Fluid conduit transfer tip
USD814025S1 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-03-27 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Fluid conduit transfer tip
US9944510B2 (en) 2015-11-13 2018-04-17 Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. Conduit terminus and related fluid transport system and method
US11014801B2 (en) 2017-11-10 2021-05-25 Pentair Flow Technologies, Llc Coupler for use in a closed transfer system
US11214479B2 (en) 2017-11-10 2022-01-04 Pentair Flow Technologies, Llc Probe assembly for use in a closed transfer system
US11795047B2 (en) 2017-11-10 2023-10-24 Pentair Flow Technologies, Llc Probe assembly for use in a closed transfer system

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