WO2014012692A1

WO2014012692A1 - Plastic closure for opening an aseptically sealed tubular plastic bag

Info

Publication number: WO2014012692A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/060510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan Barron
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-07-20
Filing date: 2013-05-22
Publication date: 2014-01-23
Also published as: DE102012212776A1

Abstract

A plastic closure for an aseptically sealed tubular plastic bag (28) comprises a cylindrical pouring spout (1) having an external screw thread and a circumferential flange (3) that can be welded to the tubular bag, a screw cap (4) that can be screwed onto the pouring spout (1) and a piercing element (5) that can be moved by means of the screw cap (4) in order to open the tubular bag for the first time. The screw cap (4) is in the form of a union nut and has a terminal collar (6) extending towards the centre of the cap. The piercing element (5) runs through the screw cap (4) and has a follower collar (7) that projects outwards and can be brought into contact with the collar (6) of the screw cap (4). When the union nut has been fully screwed down, after piercing the film material (28) the piercing element (5) protrudes into the tubular bag and forms a cannula for connection to a delivery tube (26).

Description

description

title

Plastic closure for opening an aseptically closed

Plastic tubular bag

The invention relates to a plastic closure for opening an aseptically closed plastic tubular bag according to claim 1. This is in particular a plastic closure for opening an aseptically closed plastic tube bag, wherein the

Plastic closure a spout, a screw cap and a

Breakthrough includes. The cylindrical spout has an external thread and a peripheral flange, which is weldable with the plastic tube bag, and the screw cap has an internal thread, with which it can be screwed onto the cylindrical spout. Furthermore, the

Plastic closure a by means of actuation of the screw cap movable piercer for opening the tubular bag, wherein on the screw cap and the piercing elements are present.

Closed plastic tube bags for liquid or at least free-flowing content are used in ever greater measure, because such

Packaging against solid containers have many advantages. They have the advantage, in particular because of the single use, that the contents can be aseptically filled and sealed in a particularly reliable manner, so that the aseptic state is ensured with great certainty at least until the first opening. Typical applications are therefore for example, the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, in the medical sector, where it is mostly about the metered delivery of smaller amounts of active ingredient, it needs suitable closures for opening such plastic tube bag.

Plastic bags must be pierced or cut to open in the area of a spout to create an outlet opening there. This usually works pretty well as long as the elastic

Tubular bag material in the area of the piercing or cutting point is stretched or taut. Because of the elasticity of the tubular bag material, it can also be problematic that the opening is reliable and also remains completely open. In many known solutions of

Plastic closures for plastic tube bag is a piercing or cutting device, for example in the form of a dome or in the form of a cutting element with one or more cutting teeth, present and usually already integrated in the plastic closure. When the plastic closure is actuated for the first time, these become

Opening devices activated and create the mentioned outlet in the tubular bag material.

From US-5954233 is a container made of elastic material with a generic plastic closure for opening aseptic

closed container known. Although it is not a tubular bag, but nevertheless it is a container for medical purposes, such as for the storage and delivery of eye drops, thus thus also for the metered delivery of small amounts of active ingredient. In addition, there is a further difference in that in this container, a cylindrical spout is not welded to the elastic container material, but rather is integrally connected to the same. While this has

Device a movable by means of actuation of the screw cap

Punctures for opening the container and both on a screw cap as well as on a Abdeckstopfen are projection-like driving elements. However, this device is neither designed nor suitable for dispensing the contents of the container via an outlet tube.

As a closest prior art, a typical example of a plastic closure is considered, which is mounted on a tubular bag and has all the features of the preamble. such

Plastic closures are known in many variants. In this regard, for example, reference is made to EP-1396435 or EP-1399366. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a plastic closure for opening an aseptically closed plastic tube bag, which is suitable for dispensing small amounts of fluid through a dispensing tube and which is easily assembled on site. This task is done by the

Feature combination of claim 1 solved.

The solution to this problem is basically that

- The spout has an integrally formed therein guide pin with a Durchläse,

the screw cap is designed as a union nut and has a terminal collar directed towards the center as a driver element,

- The piercer before first use in the guide pin can be used and the screw cap on the piercing überstülpbar and the

Piercing has an outwardly projecting driver collar, which can be brought into contact with the collar on the screw cap, and

the Durchstosser also as a connection cannula for attaching a

Output hose is designed,

wherein the piercer is provided in completely screwed state of the nut the film material of the tubular bag

piercing into it.

Because the piercer penetrates the screw cap or passes through and both parts mentioned the simply designed and easily accessible collar-like Have driving elements, can the inventive

Plastic closure either on site or easily assembled before delivery. False compositions are practically excluded. In addition, no sealing and in principle no unsolvable connection between the screw cap and the piercing is necessary.

Input was already mentioned that the opening of

Plastic tube bags associated with special problems. In the case of tubular bags, it is not conceivable to pierce a piercing device for opening the tubular bag by hand directly through the film, because the applied force would lead to a compression of the tubular bag and therefore the content would spray out when the tubular bag is perforated. However, because the inventive plastic closure can be very easily provided with a retaining collar, such deformation forces can be easily absorbed in use.

A plastic closure according to the invention can be designed particularly advantageously if the passage of the cylindrical spout has a non-circular cross section and if the cross section of the penetrator corresponds to the cross section of the passage and is also intended to sealingly seal the cross section of the passage when the cap nut is completely screwed on.

First, the coincidence of the cross section of the passage in the guide pin and the cross section of the piercer in the fully screwed state causes a sealing interference fit between spout and piercer. This is preferably achieved by a conical reception in the guide pin and a matching sealing cone on the piercer. Other sealing elements on the plastic closure, apart of course from the sealing connection of the intended output hose, are not required. Thus, it is also apparent that there is no sealing in this design principle between the union nut and the piercer Connection needs. Although non-circular cross sections of the passage are of course not absolutely necessary, in particular cross-slit-like cross sections (as shown in the exemplary embodiment) have the advantage that a number of perforating teeth can be shaped particularly easily. Thus, the reliability of the perforation and thus the reliability of the opening of the tubular bag can be increased by means of the plastic closure as a whole.

Further advantageous embodiments of the subject invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and their meaning and

Operation will be described in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of

Invention subject represented. It shows:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an inventive

Plastic closure,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spout of

Plastic closure according to FIG. 1,

3 shows the same spout in a view from below,

4 is a side view of the piercing of the plastic closure according to FIG. 1,

5 shows the same piercer in a sectional view,

Fig. 6 is a principle sectional view of the composition of

Screw cap and the piercer of the plastic closure according to FIG. 1, Fig. 7 is a principle sectional view of the plastic closure according to

Fig. 1 with screwed screw cap and opened plastic bag.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the main components of a plastic closure according to the invention. The plastic closure is used to open an aseptically closed plastic bag, so a container made of a flexible plastic material in which a flowable material is packaged aseptically. The plastic closure comprises a cylindrical spout 1 with an external thread 2 and a circumferential flange 3 which is connected to the plastic tube bag (not shown).

is weldable. Further, the plastic closure has a screw cap 4 with internal thread, which can be screwed onto the cylindrical spout 1, and a movable by means of actuation of the screw cap 4 piercer 5 for opening the tubular bag.

The screw cap 4 is designed as a union nut and has a for

Center directed towards the end collar 6 as a driving element.

The piercer 5 passes through the screw cap 4 and has an outwardly projecting driver collar 7, which communicates with the collar 6 on the

Screw cap 4 can be brought into contact. The piercer 5 is also designed as a cannula for connection to a dispensing tube and it is also intended to pierce the wall of the tubular pouch pierced into it in the completely screwed state of the union nut (see also Fig. 7). The cylindrical spout 1 has in a region between the external thread 2 and the peripheral flange 3 a provided with handle cam 8 and with one hand umgreifbaren base part 9. Because the spout 1 on the flange 3 with the flexible material of the plastic tube bag is welded, at least a portion of the forces would act on the plastic tube bag when screwing the screw cap 4 and generate deformations there. Thanks to the large base part 9, the spout can be held with one hand while the other hand rotates the screw cap 4, so that the torque does not act on the tubular bag and so that the deformations of the tubular bag remain low and you prevent in this way, that the bag contents in the process of screwing the screw cap 4 and the concomitant piercing of the

Hose bag material with the piercer 5 sprayed uncontrolled.

The cylindrical spout 1 also has in a passage 10, which extends substantially over the length of the external thread 2, a cross section with a defined geometric shape. This geometric shape may in principle be circular or non-circular. Non-circular cross sections may e.g. square, cross-shaped or oval. Other shapes are also possible. The embodiment shown shows a preferred, cross-slotted cross-section. This kind of

Cross-section has certain advantages, which will be discussed later (see also Fig. 4-7).

2 shows a spatial representation of the spout 1 of

Plastic closure according to FIG. 1 and in Fig. 3 is an additional view from below. Some design details of the spout 1 are clearly visible here, such that the cylindrical spout 1 has a retaining collar 1 1 in a region between the external thread 2 and the peripheral flange 3. The retaining collar 1 1 serves as a means of quality assurance, which may optionally be present. The union nut has in a

Flange 3 facing portion of a circumferential and tear-off tamper-evident ring 12 with an integrally formed also circumferential

Retention tab. This can be pushed over the retaining collar 1 1 and latched thereto (see Fig. 4 and 5). So can easily a possibly unwanted or improper reuse of the plastic closure can be detected.

Further, Fig. 3 shows in the bottom view of the flange 3, that on the underside, ie on the side which is welded onto the tubular bag material, an energy introduction arrangement in the form of

Concentration ribs 13 is arranged. This serves the better

Welding during the introduction of ultrasonic energy during

Ultrasonic welding.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the penetrator 5 of FIG

Plastic closure according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view. The piercer 5 has a connection part 14 and a below the

Mitnehmerkragens 7 oblong extending profile part 15. From Figs. 6 and 7 (where the composition is shown) it can be seen that the

Connecting part 14 of the piercer 5 designed as a union nut

Screw cap 4 passes through and protrudes outwards. In this case, the profile part 15 of the piercer 5 has a cross section of the passage 10 of the

Spout 1 corresponding cross-section. With the piercer 5, the opening of the spout 1 can be closed sealingly or filled in a sealing manner. Actually, therefore, it is not in the narrow sense a sealing closure, but rather a sealing filling an opening, because the elongated profile part 15 has in its interior a passageway 16, the

Piercer 5 additionally gives the function of a cannula through which then the flowable content located in the plastic tube bag can reach the outside to a hose connection 17.

Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the driving collar 7 of the

Through-5 has a support surface 18. With the support surface 18 of the piercing 5 with the collar 6 of the union nut 4 can be brought into abutment.

Furthermore, the connection part 14 has a locking groove 19 which is adjacent to the abutment surface 18 and extends around the circumference. The latching groove 19 is designed such that the Piercing 5 latching and rotatably held in the union nut 4. The rotation must be guaranteed course in non-circular cross-sections of the passage 10, because otherwise the nut with the piercer 5 do not screw Nesse.

Finally, it can also be seen from FIG. 5 that the elongated profile part 15 has longitudinal ribs 20, at the end of which perforation teeth 21 are formed. In the case of the cross-slit-like cross section of the passage 10, the profile part 15 has four perforating teeth 21st However, another number and / or arrangement of longitudinal ribs 20 and perforation teeth 21 may also be provided. Between the longitudinal ribs 20 are still outlet slits 27 are mounted, which facilitate the complete emptying of the plastic tube bag. The length of the outlet slots corresponds at most to the length of the penetration depth of the piercer into the tubular bag.

Finally, Fig. 5 also shows that the piercing 5 in a likewise adjacent to the driving collar 7 area a circumferential conical sealing pin 22 with an integrated therein and also

circumferential small sealing rib 23 has. Both are in the

assembled state on a corresponding flank in the conical receptacle 24 in a guide pin 100 which is integrally formed in the cylindrical spout 1, and cause a fluid seal (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 7). The cross section of the passage 10 and the profile part 15 are adapted in their longitudinal course to one another such that they result in an interference fit with the nut completely screwed on. For this purpose, the aperture 10 and / or the profile part 15 in

Cross-section over its longitudinal course slightly tapered shape to be formed (see Fig. 7). FIG. 6 shows a principle sectional drawing of the composition of FIG

Screw cap 4 and the penetrator 5 of the plastic closure according to FIG. 1. Finally, FIG. 7 shows the complete composition, namely a schematic sectional view of the plastic closure according to FIG. 1 with the screw cap 4 screwed on and with the plastic tube bag open. It is clearly evident here that the cylindrical spout 1 is welded with its flange 3 to the film material 28 of the plastic tubular bag. The screw cap 4 with the piercer 5 (ie the combination according to FIG. 6) was then screwed onto the spout 1, to such an extent that the perforating teeth 21 of the piercer 5 seal the film material 28

pierced and in a perforation 25 the desired

Outlet opening, through which then the flowable material contained in the tubular bag can flow via the passageway 16 in the piercer 5 create.

Here it is also shown that an outlet hose 25 can be connected to the hose connection 17 of the connection part 14. In this case, the hose connection 17 can be configured in various and needs-based form,

for example, in the form of a common Luerlock compound, as it is often found in the medical field, or, for example, in the form of a well-known in other fields of technology squeeze screw.

Preferably, you will deliver the tubular bag with the welded spout without screwed screw cap 4. The screw cap 4 with the piercer 5 and the dispensing tube 26 are sterile packed and delivered pre-assembled. Optionally, the screw cap can be delivered already placed on the spout of the tubular bag, so that only the piercer and the output hose must be packed and delivered separately.

Claims

claims:

1 . Plastic closure for opening an aseptically closed

Plastic bag, comprising a cylindrical spout (1) with an external thread (2) and a circumferential flange (3) which is welded to the plastic tube bag, a screw cap (4) with

Internal thread which can be screwed onto the cylindrical spout (1), and a through-opening (5) which can be moved by actuation of the screw cap (4) to open the tubular bag, wherein driving elements are present on the screw cap (4) and on the piercer (5),

characterized in that

- The spout has an integrally formed therein guide pin (100) with a passage (10),

- The screw cap (4) is designed as a union nut and has a center towards the end facing collar (6) as a driving element,

- The piercer (5) before first use in the guide pin (100) can be inserted and the screw cap (4) on the piercer (5) can be pushed over and the piercer (5) has an outwardly projecting driver collar (7), with the collar (6) can be brought into contact with the screw cap (4), and

the piercer (5) is also designed as a connecting cannula for attaching an outlet tube (26),

wherein the piercer (5) is intended to pierce the film material (28) of the tubular bag by piercing it in completely screwed-on state of the cap nut.

2. Plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the Durchläse (10) of the cylindrical spout (1) has a non- has a circular cross section and the cross section of the piercer (5) corresponds to the cross section of the passage (10) and is provided, in the fully screwed state of the screw cap (4) or the

Union nut the cross section of the passage (10) sealingly closed

succeed.

3. Plastic closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the passage of the cylindrical spout (1) square-like,

cross-shaped stranded or oval.

4. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the piercer (5) latching and rotatably held in the union nut (4).

5. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cylindrical spout (1) in a region between the external thread (2) and the peripheral flange (3) has a retaining collar (1 1) and the union nut in a flange (3) facing

Part area has a circumferential and tear-off tamper evident ring (12) with a likewise circumferential retaining nose.

6. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cylindrical spout (1) in a region between the external thread (2) and the peripheral flange (3) with a

Handle cam provided base part (9).

7. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the piercer (5) below the Mitnehmerkragens (7) has a conical sealing pin (22) in a conical receptacle (24) in the guide pin (100) sealingly by means of Union nut (4) is einpressbar.

8. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the piercer (5) at least one

Perforation tooth (21).

9. plastic closure according to claim 8, characterized in that the piercer (5) has a plurality of longitudinal ribs (20) and at each longitudinal rib (20) has a perforation tooth (21) is formed.

10. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the output hose (26) with a common

Connection can be fastened to a hose connection (17) at the piercer (5), such as a Luer lock connection or a crimping screw connection.

1 1. Plastic closure according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that before the first use of the screw cap or the

Union nut (4), the piercer (5) and the delivery hose (26) pre-assembled are supplied separately packed.