WO2012004256A1

WO2012004256A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2012004256A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/061302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Hother; Thomas Hagen; Alexandra Merz; David Zogg; Claudio Schödler
Original assignee: Brita Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-07-06
Filing date: 2011-07-05
Publication date: 2012-01-12
Also published as: DE102010030988B4; TW201217241A; DE102010030988A1; EP2590877A1; US20130105340A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container comprising a top wall (40), which has at least one top wall region (42) that can be perforated to form a feed opening (46) for feeding a liquid; a bottom wall (50), which has at least one bottom wall region (56) that can be perforated to form an outlet opening (58); and at least one chamber (12), which is surrounded by chamber walls (13) and in which a base product (14) and an adjustment element (100) are located. The adjustment element (100) is arranged such that it can be moved from an idle position to a working position and, when in the working position, opens at least one chamber wall (13). A chamber wall (13) has at least one opening (19), on or in which a component (101) of the adjustment element (100) is detachably fastened when in the idle position. Said component (101) of the adjustment element (100) closes the opening (19) in the chamber wall (13).

Description

container

The invention relates to a container comprising:

a top wall, the at least one for forming ei ^¬ ner supply port for the supply of a liquid

having perforable top wall portion;

a bottom wall having at least one bottom wall ^portion perforable to form an outlet opening; and at least one chamber surrounded by chamber walls, in which a base product and an adjusting element are located, where ^¬ in the adjusting element is arranged movable from a rest to a working position and opens at least one chamber wall in working position.

In beverage machines, especially in coffee machines, disposable containers or disposable packaging, eg. In the form of capsules, which are closed by means of one or two films and which contain, for example, coffee or other substances, such as flavorings, in powdery or liquid form. These disposable containers are inserted into the beverage machine ^¬ , the contents of the disposable container with a liquid, eg. As water, brought together and this preparation is then delivered as a finished drink. The used Einwegbe ^¬ container is then removed from the beverage machine and disposed of.

EP 0451980 Bl discloses a sealed Verpa ^¬ ckung one or more pulverulent, pasty or

contains liquid food preparation ingredients. An inlet opening feeds these ingredients with water. The finished preparation is provided by a provided in the bottom area

Outlet nozzle discharged, which has a displaceable plug. To discharge the finished preparation, the existing of a film bottom wall of the package in the

The outlet nozzle is pierced from below by a machine-side connecting piece which, after entering the outlet nozzle, prints the plug upwards against an intermediate wall. These two has a wall provided with predetermined breaking lines wall section, which is broken by the stopper, whereby the

Preparation is released. This flows through a central passageway in the plug and then through the machine-side spigot down out of the package.

This packaging has the disadvantage that the bottom-side outlet must be opened by the machine-side connecting piece, so that the connecting piece comes into contact with the finished preparation. To today's high hygienic

To meet requirements for such a device, it is necessary to clean this connector before inserting a new packaging every time.

The US 2004/0115317 AI describes a z. B. filled with coffee powder cartridge whose bottom wall from the inside

is pierced. Above the bottom wall, a cup-shaped intermediate bottom is arranged, which is referred to as inner piston and which is adapted to the inner dimensions of the cartridge.

The powder is located between the intermediate bottom and the top wall of the cartridge. The intermediate floor is with a as

Cutting element formed outlet pipe provided. When water is introduced through the top wall into the interior of the cartridge with pressure, the intermediate bottom is pressed down, whereby the cutting element pierces the bottom wall and the outlet is released.

Although this cartridge meets the hygienic requirements, but the functionality of the cartridge is not always guaranteed. In this embodiment, it is important that the water pressure and thus the pressure on the

Intermediate floor is right at the beginning of the introduction large enough so that the bottom wall can be pierced. A jamming of the movable intermediate floor can not be excluded in this case. In addition, since the intermediate bottom has a plurality of passage openings, liquid can penetrate into the space between the bottom wall and the intermediate bottom, whereby the pressure on the intermediate bottom after the beginning of the introduction process degraded relatively quickly and thus the bottom wall can not be reliably pierced.

From WO 2008/132571 capsules are known which contain a certain amount of a soluble beverage. The capsule has a cover sheet which is pierced in the beverage machine by a connecting piece, via which a pressurized solution liquid such. As water, the interior of the capsule is supplied.

The capsule is essentially subdivided into four chambers. The supplied liquid is first in a

Introduced distribution chamber and fed from there to a storage chamber in which the amount of soluble beverage is. In this storage chamber, the soluble beverage mixes with the supplied liquid and the prepared beverage is subsequently collected in a collection chamber from where it is discharged through an opening in the bottom wall of the capsule.

In order to open the bottom wall, a displaceable perforator is arranged in a central chamber of the capsule, which is pressed by the connecting piece against the bottom wall, so that it tears open.

In this case, arranged in the interior of the perforator passageway with the outlet opening of the collection chamber is made to coincide, so that the prepared liquid can be discharged from the capsule down.

These capsule has the disadvantage that the sub ^¬ distribution of the various chambers of complicated installation parts are required. In order to be able to supply the liquid as evenly as possible to the storage chamber and to ensure homogeneous mixing in the latter, a distribution chamber arranged upstream of the storage chamber is required.

WO 2007/114685 describes a capsular Verpa ^¬ ckung in which a portion of liquid is contained. Centrally a column is arranged, which is connected at the lower end via a ge ^¬ corrugated flexible bottom portion with the bottom wall of the package. Both the top and the bottom of the packaging is sealed with a sealing film. By means of a connecting piece, the upper Siegelfo lie ^¬ be pierced and the column can be pushed down, thereby in turn, penetrating the secured to the bottom sheet. The column is provided with a Venturieinrichtung over which the liquid Sportion is sucked out of the chamber surrounding the column upon introduction of a liquid into the column. Mixing of both liquids takes place in the lower part of the column.

It is an object of the invention to provide a container which is of simple construction and functions reliably.

This object is achieved with the container according to the invention.

The container has a cover wall which has at least one cover wall region which can be perforated to form a feed opening for the supply of a liquid. Furthermore, the container has a bottom wall having at least one perforable for forming an outlet opening bottom wall portion, and at least one is surrounded by chamber walls chamber in which a base product and an adjusting element are situated, wherein the adjusting element arranged to be movable from a rest position into a working Stel ^¬ lung is and opens at least one chamber wall in working position. The chamber wall has at least one opening, to which or in which a component of the Verstellele ^¬ mentes is releasably secured in its rest position, said component of the displacement member closes the opening in the chamber wall.

A container is understood to mean reusable containers and packaging as well as disposable containers and packaging.

Under perforable is understood that the affected

Wall area can be opened in any way. The opening of the wall region can be done for example by cutting or slicing, piercing, piercing or tearing.

The adjustment takes over in the rest position the particular tight closure of the chamber in which the Ba ^¬ sisprodukt is, and is fixed by the releasable attachment simultaneously. The detachable attachment to the opening means that the component of the adjustment on the Au ^¬ ßenfläche of the opening wall delimiting the scope of the

Chamber wall is arranged.

The releasable attachment in the opening means that the component is disposed within the opening at the wall portion of the chamber wall defining the opening.

With a connecting and dispensing means, such as a connecting piece of a beverage machine, the closed by the adjusting element opening can be opened by the occlusive component of the adjustment is printed inside the chamber inside. Depending on where this opening is, thereby the feed opening or the outlet opening of the chamber can be created.

The liquid supplied by the connecting and discharging means of the beverage machine is introduced into the chamber and mixed there with the base product. This chamber thus forms not only the storage space of the base product, but also the mixing chamber. It can be saved additional subdivisions of the interior of the container.

In one embodiment of the container, the chamber wall is a top wall of the container, a bottom wall of the container, or a partition within the container.

When the chamber wall forms the top wall of the container, the loose opening of the releasable attachment of the component of the adjusting element creates the feed opening, through which the

Liquid from the connection and dispensing means of Getränkema ^¬ machine can be introduced into the container. The component of the adjusting element forms in this embodiment, the perforable for supplying the liquid cover wall area.

When the respective chamber wall forms the bottom wall, the outlet opening is created by releasing the releasable attachment of the component of the adjustment, through which the mixture of liquid and base product can be discharged. The component of the adjusting element forms in this embodiment, the perforable for the formation of the exit opening bottom wall area. In this embodiment, the connection and output means first pierces the cover wall and then the adjustment is actuated by this connection and Abgabemit ^¬ tel.

If the chamber wall is a partition ^disposed inside the container, it is between the partition and the

Cover wall or the bottom wall nor an additional chamber disposed inside ^¬ half of the container, which is advantageous for hygienic reasons, since the occlusive component of the adjustment is not directly exposed to environmental influences from the outside. By loosening the releasable attachment of the component of the adjusting element is an access or

Outlet opening of the chamber created within the container.

In one embodiment of the container, the component of the adjusting element closes the opening in a liquid-tight manner.

The adjusting element can be connected via a predetermined breaking line with the chamber wall. This line of weakness may be formed at the pitch ^¬ by an adhesive seam. Another option is to pour the adjustment with a nominal ^¬ break line to the chamber wall. In a

Embodiment, a portion of the predetermined breaking line may also be formed as a film hinge.

The component of the adjusting element comprises in one embodiment of the container a plate-shaped element which closes the opening of the chamber wall.

The plate-shaped element can have an upwardly projecting annular wall with at least one inlet opening. It is thereby created a cup-shaped structure in which, for example, the connection ^{piece of} a beverage ^machine can grab ^¬ .

In one embodiment of the container, the adjusting element has a cutting and / or pushing device which, according to a particular embodiment, can consist of a needle. With the cutting and / or pushing device, the bottom wall, which may have, for example, a bottom plate with a perforable Be ^¬ rich or a sealing foil, are pierced.

When the connection and delivery means a Getränkema ^¬ machine acts on the adjusting element, the relevant opening in the chamber wall on the one hand and on the other hand open simultaneously opened by means of the cutting and / or pushing device, the bottom wall.

In one embodiment of the container is sufficient

Cutting and / or pushing device up to the bottom wall. In particular, the cutting and / or pushing device contacts the

Bottom wall, thereby an additional fixation of Ver ^¬ adjusting element is achieved in the rest position. In the

Working position of the adjusting element thus the feed ^¬ or an access and the outlet opening are created.

According to a further embodiment, the cutting and / or pushing device may have a pipe section with at least ei ^¬ ner outlet opening. Other cutting and / or

Shock devices are possible.

According to a further embodiment, the component of the adjusting element is a plate-shaped member that closes an Publ ^¬ voltage in the bottom wall.

The adjusting element may have means for tipping the Ver ^¬ adjusting element. In this embodiment, the adjusting element, which is fixed on or in the bottom wall projects, in-nerhalb of the container upwards and is tilted by the connection and delivery means of the beverage machine so that the Publ ^¬ voltage is broken up in the bottom wall. The means for

Tilting of the adjusting device preferably comprise an inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adjusting element

Operating plate.

Under a base product, a powdered and / or liquid product is meant, which may consist of one or several ^¬ ren components. The basic product can

for example, a syrup, a concentrate or an extract. The base product is miscible with the externally supplied liquid and is preferably soluble in this liquid.

The base product is a food, a Nahrungser ^¬ gänzungsmittel, a dietary supplement, a

pharmaceutical product or a cleaning agent.

Depending on the nature of the basic product, the type of liquid ^¬ ness is to be selected. The associated device in which such a container can be used, is on the respective Purpose aligned and equipped. Such a device may be a beverage machine, in the container, in particular disposable containers, can be used, with the content z. B. drinking water can be changed taste.

The device comprises a receptacle for a container and a connection and delivery means, in particular in the form ei ^¬ nes connection piece, with which the container can be perforated and the said container at least one liquid is fed.

The container and / or the adjustment can be made of plastic. The production can be carried out by means of an injection molding process. The container with peripheral wall and bottom wall and optionally further chamber walls can be produced in one piece, wherein the bottom wall depending on

Embodiment is wholly or partially formed on the one-piece container.

The two components container and adjustment can also be made in one piece depending on the design. This one-piece container with adjustment is then filled with the base product and sealed with a respective sealing film as the top wall and / or bottom wall.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 is a perspective plan view of a Be ^¬ container,

2 is a perspective bottom view of a Be ^¬ container,

3 shows a section through the container according to Figures 1 and 2 together with a machine-side connecting piece,

4 shows the embodiment of a shown in Fig. 3

Container with inserted connection piece, and

Fig. 5-10 further embodiments of a container with a connecting piece.

In Figures 1 and 2, a container 10 is shown in two perspective views, for example, as Disposable container is used. The container 10 has a top wall 40, a peripheral wall 30 and a bottom wall 50.

In the embodiment shown here, the top wall 40 is formed by a foil 41, which is fastened on an annular bead 32 of the peripheral wall 30.

The bottom wall 50 is composed of a ring plate 52 and a centrally disposed film 54. Both the top wall 40 and the bottom wall 50 and the film 54 have a perfo ^¬ regener- wall region 42,56.

Further, the bottom wall 50 has two annular Rip ^¬ pen 60 and between the two annular ribs 60 radial ribs 62, which are not shown in the following figures for clarity. Also, these ribs can be dispensed with altogether.

In Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the in the

Figures 1 and 2 shown container 10 shown. The interior of the container 10 is divided into a first chamber 12 and a second smaller chamber 18. In the embodiment shown here, the chamber 18 is arranged centrally in the chamber 12. It is a rotationally symmetric

Arrangement. An embodiment, such as an asymmetrical arrangement, is also possible.

Both chambers 12,18 are separated by a cylindrical partition 20, wherein the cylindrical partition wall 20 extends from the top wall 40 down into the container. Furthermore, in the chamber 12, the base product 14 is provided, through the mirror 15, a free space 16 is present, in which a gas, for. As air or a protective gas is located.

The chamber walls 13 of the first chamber 12 are formed by the top wall 40, the peripheral wall 30, the bottom wall 50 and the partition wall 20, wherein the partition wall 20 has the opening 19.

In the chamber 12, an adjusting element 100 is also provided, which is in the rest position and has a plate-shaped element 102, on which an upwardly projecting annular wall 104 is formed with inlet opening 106. The plate shaped element 102 with the annular wall 104 forms the ^{compo ¬} te 101 of the adjusting element 100, the opening 19 in the

Partition 20 closes. It is created by the annular wall 104, a cup-shaped configuration of the component 101.

The annular wall 104 is located on the inside of the disconnector ^according wall 20 and is connected thereto via a predetermined breaking line 108, which are closed above the predetermined breaking line 108 befindli ^¬ chen inlet openings 106 by the inner wall 20th The annular wall 104 may be glued to the partition wall 20 along the predetermined breaking line 108, for example. The ^{compo ¬} te 101 is thus releasably secured in the opening 19.

On the underside of the plate-shaped element 102, a cutting and / or pusher 110 is arranged, which is configured in the form of a needle 112. The needle extends from the underside of the plate-shaped element 102 to Bo ^¬ denwand 50 and ends above the perforable portion 56 of the bottom wall 50. The bottom wall 50 may as well as the top wall 40 of a film 54, in particular a sealing film consist.

In FIG. 3, the connection element is located in the form of a Ansschlussstutzens an unillustrated Getränkema ^¬ machine 200, which has a cutting and / or piercing means 210 at the lower end, the already partially deck ^¬ wall 40 in the perforable portion 42 to form the

Feed opening 46 has pierced and moves in the direction of the adjustment element 100. The annular wall 104 forms the

Connecting element 140 for the connecting piece 200. Via the passage 212 of the connecting ^piece 200, a liquid can be ^inserted into the inner space 12 of the first chamber after full insertion of the connecting ^piece into the container 10, as shown in FIG. 4. In the chamber 12, the mixing of liquid and base product 14 takes place.

While Fig. 3 shows the rest position of the adjusting element 100, in Fig. 4, the working position of the

Adjustment element 100 shown. By means of the connecting piece 200, the adjusting element 100 is pressed downwards, whereby the predetermined breaking point 108 on the component 101 is opened. will become. The inlet openings 106 are released, thereby providing an access opening to the chamber 12.

The cutting and / or pushing device 110 has pierced the Bo ^¬ denwand 50 and created in this way the outlet opening 58 of the container 10. The film parts of the perforable area 56 hang down. The liquid, which is supplied through the connecting piece 200, penetrates into the cup-shaped inner region of the adjusting element 100, ie into the second chamber 18, and can flow into the chamber 12 through the inlet openings 106 located in the annular wall 104 and join there the base product 14 to a mixture 14 'mix. The chamber 12 thus also forms the mixing chamber for the two substances.

If, as can be seen in the representation shown here, above the level 15 of the base 14 is a product free ^¬ space 16 is present, which can on the

Outlet 200 supply liquid initially in this upper free space 16 spread before the mixing takes place in the lower part of the chamber 12.

The length of the cutting and / or pushing device 110, in particular the needle 112 can also be made shorter than shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A shorter Na ^¬ del 112 has the advantage that when moving the

Adjusting 100 first the access openings in the form of the inlet openings 106 are released and at a later time the perforable portion 56 is pierced. The liquid can therefore penetrate into the chamber 12 before opening the bottom wall and start the mixing process before it flows out of the container 10. In order to favor this premature penetration of the liquid into the chamber 12, the connection element 200 may having a means 220 for Durchsto ^¬ SEN of the top wall 40 and to create at least one

Be provided vent opening 44 (dashed lines shown as an option only in Fig. 4).

In the figures 5 and 6 a further embodiment with an adjusting element 100 in the rest and working position is provided ^¬, in which the top wall 40 to the area above the Adjustment element 100 does not cover. This area remains open, so that the component 101 of the adjusting element 100 is immediately accessible. The partition wall 20, which is also the chamber wall 13, forms part of the outer wall, ie the top wall 40, of the container 10. The component 101 of the adjusting element 100 in this embodiment forms the cover wall region 42 which can be perforated for the supply of the liquid.

Here too, a plate-shaped element 102 with an annular wall 104 is shown as the component 101, the end surface of which is adapted to the shape of the cutting and / or pushing device 210 of the connecting piece 200. In addition, only a lateral inlet opening 106 is provided in the ring wall ^¬ 104, which is arranged below the predetermined breaking line 108.

Is located at the bottom of the component 101, a post 122 are arranged at the lower end of webs 130, Zvi ^¬ rule which openings are formed 132 through which in

Working position of the adjusting element 100, the mixture 14 'of liquid and base product can enter the interior. At these webs 130, an annular cutting and / or pusher 110 is arranged with a pipe section 114 having an outlet opening 116. The mixture exits through the se ^¬ outlet opening 116 down.

By releasing the releasable attachment of the component 101 of the adjustment 100, the opening 106th

released and thus the opening 19 is opened, whereby the feed opening ^¬ 46 is formed.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment in which the plate-shaped element 102 of FIG

Component 101 of the adjusting element 100 has a significantly shorter annular wall 104 without opening. The annular wall 104 serves as a clamping element, in which the connecting element 200 engages. Zvi ^¬ rule is, the end faces of the inner wall 20 forming part of the top wall 40 and the annular wall 104 is the predetermined breaking line 108 is provided. The component 101 of the adjusting element 100 is located at the opening 19 and closes the opening 19. The connecting piece 200 has a passage 212, which is divided into two transversely arranged outlet channels 214.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the lower section 202 of the connection element 200 engages in the space between the annular wall 104 and clampingly holds the component 101 so that it does not fall off in an uncontrolled manner and possibly accidentally close the outlet ^opening 58 , The demolition force for separating the predetermined breaking line 108 must be adjusted so that the clamping connection can be made first and only then the demolition takes place.

The supplied liquid is discharged laterally from the ^¬ outlet channels 214 into the chamber 12, where the

Mixing with the base product 14 takes place.

In FIG. 9, a further embodiment is shown in which the adjusting element 100 has a plate-shaped member 102 that forms the component 101 that is detachably attached to the opening 19 of the bottom wall 50 and the off ^¬ outlet opening 58 of the container 10 closes. To the

Plate-shaped element 102, a column 122 is formed, which projects upwardly into the interior of the container 10 and at the upper end an obliquely arranged, inclined to the longitudinal axis 105 Betä ^¬ ment plate 124 has.

Instead of the inclined actuator plate 124, the column 122 may also have a correspondingly inclined end face.

The plate-shaped element 102 and thus the Components ^¬ te 101 forms the perforable portion 56 of the bottom wall 50 of the container 10. The component 101 is never connected via a Sollbruchli ^¬ 108 with the bottom wall 50, wherein the

Rupture line 108 is guided in a section as a film hinge 109 from ^¬ . The adjustment is made with the bottom wall 50 and the peripheral wall 30 in one piece.

When the connecting piece. 200 - as illustrated in Figure 10 - the top wall has pierced 40 reaches the tip of the connecting piece 200 in contact with the obliquely arranged Be ^¬ tätigungsplatte 124 and pivots the adjusting element 100 via the film hinge 109 to the side, whereby the predetermined breaking point 108 is broken in the bottom wall 50 and thus the off ^¬ outlet opening 58 is released.

Reference sign list:

10 containers

12 first chamber

13 chamber walls

14 basic product

14 'mixture

15 mirrors

16 free space

18 second chamber

19 opening

20 partition

30 peripheral wall

32 ring collar

40 cover wall

41 foil

42 perforable wall area

44 vent opening

46 feed opening

50 bottom wall

52 ring plate

54 foil

56 perforable wall area

58 outlet opening

60 annular rib

62 radial rib

100 adjusting element

101 component

102 plate-shaped element

104 ring wall

105 longitudinal axis

106 inlet opening

108 predetermined breaking line, fixing point

109 film hinge

110 cutting and / or pushing device 112 needle

114 pipe section outlet opening

pillar

operating plate

web

opening

connecting element

lower section

Cutting and / or shock device

Through channel

outlet channel

Device for creating a ventilation opening

Claims

A container comprising:

a top wall (40) having at least one top wall portion (42) perforable to form a liquid feed port (46);

a bottom wall (50) which perforates at least one for Ausbil ^¬ tion of an outlet opening (58)

Bottom wall portion (56); and

at least one of chamber walls (13) surrounded Kam ^¬ mer (12), in which a base product (14) and an adjusting element (100) are located, wherein the adjusting element (100) is arranged movable from a rest to a working position and in working position at least one chamber wall (13) opens, characterized in that

a chamber wall (13) has at least one opening (19) on ^¬ is at or in a component (101) of the adjusting ^¬ element (100) releasably secured in its rest position, said component (101) of the adjusting element (100) the opening (19) in the chamber wall (13) closes.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the chamber wall (13) has a wall from one of a top wall (40) of the

Container (10), a bottom wall (50) of the container (10) and ei ^¬ ner partition (20) formed within the container (10)

Group is.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the component (101) closes the opening (19) liquid-tight.

4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjusting element (100) via a predetermined breaking line (108) with the chamber wall (13) is connected.

5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adjusting element (100) is glued to the chamber wall (13).

6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adjusting element (100) is cast on the chamber wall (13).

7. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the component (101) of the adjusting element (100) is a plate-conveying Miges element (102) which closes the opening (19) in the chamber ^¬ wall (13).

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plate-shaped element (102) has an upwardly projecting annular wall (104) with at least one inlet opening (106).

9. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the adjusting element (100) comprises means (110) which forms at least one of a trimming device and a bumper.

The container of claim 9, wherein the device (110) is a needle (112).

11. A container according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the device (110) has a pipe section (114) with at least one outlet opening (116).

12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the component (101) of the adjusting element (100) is a plate-shaped element (102) having an opening (19) in the

Bottom wall (50) closes.

13. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the adjusting element (100) means for tilting the

Has adjusting element (100).

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein said means for tilting with respect to the longitudinal axis (105) of the

Adjusting element (100) inclined actuating plate (124)

includes.