WO2015059681A1

WO2015059681A1 - Fluid-dispensing device with solid inclusion

Info

Publication number: WO2015059681A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/065635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pittheus MOLEMANS
Original assignee: Power Container Corp.
Priority date: 2013-10-25
Filing date: 2014-10-27
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: FR3012434A1; KR20150048009A

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid-dispensing device (1) for dispensing a homogenised liquid mixture, comprising: - a container (6); - a volume-variable pouch (3) placed inside the container (6); - a delivering control (4); and - at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) placed inside the pouch (3); wherein the container (6), the pouch (3) and the delivering control (6) are assembled to one another to form an inner chamber (21) for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture and an outer space (11) for receiving a pressurised gas such that in operation, the pressurised gas squeezes the pouch (3) when it is actuated.

Description

Fluid-dispensing device with solid inclusion

Technical field The invention relates to the technical field of liquid-dispensing devices and more particularly to dispensing devices commonly known as "bag-on-valve" dispensing devices.

Prior art

Liquid-dispensing devices for dispensing homogenised liquid mixtures are known. An example of such liquid-dispensing devices is described for example in WO 2006/087462 and EP2129598, and comprises a container, a variable volume pouch inserted inside the container and a delivering control. The pouch presents an open end that is fixed to the delivering control to provide an inner chamber. A sealing gasket placed between the pouch and the delivering control ensures that the inner chamber is fluid-tight. The container, the pouch and the delivering control form together a fluid-tight space enclosing the pouch. The fluid-tight space is filled with pressurised gas and the inner chamber with a liquid formulation. Thus, the liquid formulation is not in direct contact with the pressurised gas. This type of fluid- dispensing device is commonly called "bag-on-valve" dispensing device.

Such "bag-on-valve" dispensing devices are satisfactory for dispensing homogenised liquid mixtures that are stable over time, i.e. that do not become destabilised and in which the constituents do not break apart. Unfortunately, some homogenised liquid mixtures are not stable enough over their shelf-life time and start to destabilise with their constituents slowly breaking apart from one another, then they cannot be satisfactorily dispensed with a bag-on-valve dispensing system.

For example, when the homogenised liquid mixture is a suspension of solid particles in a solvent, the solid particles thereof can start to deposit onto the bottom of the pouch or float at the surface of the solvent. When the homogenised liquid mixture is an emulsion of more than one liquid with different density, the emulsion can start to break into more than one liquid phase, for example due to flocculation, creaming, coalescence or Ostwald ripening. Summary of the invention

Thus, the invention aims at overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art to provide a bag-on-valve liquid-dispensing device for dispensing homogenised liquid mixture and ensuring that the liquid mixture is homogeneous when dispensed.

Accordingly, the invention provides a liquid-dispensing device for dispensing a homogenised liquid mixture that comprises:

a container;

a volume-variable pouch placed inside the container; and

- a delivering control with a valve;

the container, the pouch and the delivering control are assembled to one another to form an inner chamber enclosed by the pouch for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture and an outer space between the container and the pouch for receiving a pressurised gas such that in operation, the pressurised gas squeezes the pouch thereby causing the homogenised liquid mixture to be driven from the inner chamber, through the valve of the delivering control, to the ambient atmosphere when the valve is actuated; and

wherein the liquid-dispensing device further comprises at least one homogenising solid inclusion placed inside the pouch and made of a material inert to the homogenised liquid mixture.

Thus, before use, the user can shake the liquid-dispensing device in case the homogenised liquid mixture starts to destabilise so that it is homogeneous again. During shaking or agitation of the liquid-dispensing device, the at least one homogenising solid inclusion moves inside the inner chamber and helps to enhance turbulence created by the shaking of the device and to enable efficient remixing of the different constituents of the homogenised liquid mixture when it starts to destabilise Additionally, the physical separation of the pressurised fluid and the homogenised liquid mixture ensures that the latter is kept aseptic throughout its shelf- life time.

Other optional and non-limiting features are as followed.

The at least one homogenising solid inclusion may be bead-shaped or pin-shaped. The at least one homogenising solid inclusion may have the shape of an at least partially concave polyhedron, more particularly the shape of a star polyhedron. The at least one homogenising solid inclusion made of a material inert to the homogenised liquid mixture can be, for example, made of stainless steel, glass or polymer.

The pouch may be sharp-corner-free once it is filled up to its full capacity, for example with a substantially cylindrical lateral wall and an outwardly domed bottom wall extending from one end of the cylindrical wall, the other end of the cylindrical wall extending to a tapered wall presenting the filling opening fixed to the delivering control. More in particular, the cross section of the cylindrical wall may be star- shaped with rounded arms.

The pouch may be made of a material chosen from the group consisting of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), Nylon®, HDPE (high- density polyethylene) (also known as PEHD (polyethylene high-density)), PC (polycarbonate), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide) and mixtures or assemblies thereof.

The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the liquid-dispensing device described above. The method comprises:

inserting the at least one homogenising solid inclusion inside the pouch through a filling opening thereof;

inserting the delivering control at least partially through the filing opening of the pouch;

fixing the pouch to the delivering control through a fixing rim of the pouch, thereby forming an inner chamber;

inserting the pouch through an insertion opening of the container, the pouch being placed entirely inside the container to form an outer space between the container and the pouch;

filling the outer space with pressurised fluid; and

fixing the container to the pouch and/or the delivering control through a fixing rim of the container;

thereby obtaining the liquid-dispensing device.

The invention further provides a liquid-dispensing assembly for a liquid-dispensing device with a container as described above. The liquid-dispensing assembly comprises:

a volume-variable pouch to be placed inside the container; and

a delivering control with a valve; wherein the pouch and the delivering control are assembled to one another to form an inner chamber enclosed by the pouch for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture; and

wherein the liquid-dispensing assembly further comprises at least one homogenising solid inclusion placed inside the pouch.

The optional and non-limiting features mentioned above for the liquid-dispensing device are also applicable to this liquid-dispensing assembly.

Moreover, the invention provides a method for manufacturing the liquid- dispensing assembly mentioned above. This method comprises:

- inserting the at least one homogenising solid inclusion inside the pouch through the filling opening of the pouch;

fixing the fixing rim of the pouch to the delivering control to form an inner chamber;

thereby obtaining the liquid-dispensing assembly.

Drawings The following drawings provide exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Identical reference signs refer to features having the same or a similar function and/or serving the same objective. Same reference signs may also refer to equal or similar elements.

Fig. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a liquid-dispensing device according to the invention with the pouch inserted inside the container and respectively before and after the pouch is filled;

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a pin-shaped homogenising solid inclusion; and

Fig. 4 to 7 illustrate four examples of homogenising solid inclusions in the shape of star polyhedra.

Description

Liquid-dispensing device A liquid-dispensing device according to the invention will be described hereafter with reference to Fig. 1 and 2.

The liquid-dispensing device 1 can be used for dispensing a homogenised liquid mixture, such as formulation comprising different constituents that were made into a suspension or an emulsion, for example cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreens, technical products, etc.

The wording "homogenised liquid mixture" designates within the scope of the present application, any emulsion or suspension which has been made homogeneous but is still susceptible to break apart or destabilise with time due, i.e. at some point during its shelf-life time, for example, to flocculation, creaming, coalescence, Ostwald ripening or sedimentation.

The liquid-dispensing device 1 comprises a container 6, a volume-variable pouch 3 placed inside the container 6 through an insertion opening 63 thereof, and a delivering control 4 with a valve 41 . The container 6, the pouch 3 and the delivering control 4 are assembled to one another to form an outer space 1 1 between the container 6 and the pouch 3 for receiving a pressurised fluid therein, and an inner chamber 21 enclosed by the pouch 3 for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture.

The pressurised fluid may be a pressurised gas such as pressurised nitrogen, pressurised air or liquefied petroleum gas. The pressure of the pressurised fluid will be further increased during filling of the pouch.

The container 6 may be provided as a can that has a cylindrical lateral wall 61 with an inwardly domed bottom wall 62 extending from one end 61 1 of the cylindrical wall. The other end 612 of the cylindrical wall forms the insertion opening 63 through which the pouch 3 can be inserted.

However, the container 6 may also be provided in various shapes as long as it can withstand pressures of 1 bar to 20 bars and as long as it presents an insertion opening 63 for inserting the pouch 3 inside the container 6.

The container 6 may have a fixing rim 64 surrounding the insertion opening 63 for its fixation to the pouch 3 and/or the delivering control 4, for example by crimping the fixing rim 64 to the pouch 3 and/or the delivering control 4, for forming the outer space 1 1 . A first sealing gasket 7, for example a flat annular gasket, may be provided between the container 6 and the pouch 3 and/or the delivering control 4 to ensure that the outer space 1 1 is fluid-tight, especially gastight.

The container 6 may typically be in metal or plastic. Were the container made of metal, the metal is chosen from the group consisting of: aluminium, tin plate. When the container is made of plastic, the plastic is chosen form the group consisting of: PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), Nylon®, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) (also known as PEHD (polyethylene high-density)), PC (polycarbonate), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide) and mixtures or assemblies thereof. Preferably, the pouch is made of PET by an extrusion blow moulding method as known by the person skilled in the art.

The pouch 3 presents a filling opening 31 through which the homogenised liquid mixture is filled into the inner chamber 21 . The pouch 3 may present a fixing rim 32 surrounding the filling opening 31 for its fixation to the delivering control 4 and/or the container 6, for example by crimping. A second sealing gasket 8, for example a flat annular gasket, between the fixing rim 32 of the pouch and the delivering control 4 and/or the container 6 ensures that the inner chamber 21 is fluid-tight, especially liquid-tight.

The pouch 3 is preferably sharp-corner-free once it is filled up to its full capacity (see Fig. 2), i.e. it does not present any angle between walls forming a vertex of curvature radius of less than half the radius of the smallest at least homogenising solid inclusion. Indeed, when the pouch comprises sharp angles when it is filled up to its full capacity, such as pouches made of a folded rectangular laminated film sealed at its edges (also called pillow pouches) or pouches made of three pieces of laminated film called Doypack pouches, the sharp angles can entrap the homogenising solid inclusion. The entrapment risk is greater as the pouch is emptied.

In one particular embodiment, the pouch 3 may also have a substantially cylindrical lateral wall 33 and an outwardly domed bottom wall 34 extending from one end 331 of the cylindrical lateral wall. The other end 332 of the cylindrical wall extends to a tapered wall 35 presenting the filling opening 31 , optionally surrounded by a fixing rim 32.

The cross section of the cylindrical wall may be star-shaped with rounded arms, especially before it is introduced into the container and before the homogenised liquid mixture is filled therein. In this case, the star-shaped cross section presents an empty centre, the size of which is adapted to enable insertion of the at least one homogenising solid inclusion therethrough. Alternatively, the cylindrical lateral wall 33 can be described as presenting pleats that extend collinearly to the longitudinal axis A of the cylindrical wall. When the homogenised liquid mixture is filled into the inner chamber 21 , the cylindrical lateral wall 33 expands in the manner of a bellows or an accordion. The delivering control 4 may further comprise an actuator 42 for actuating the valve 41 to shift it from a closed position to an opened position where the homogenised liquid mixture is dispensed.

The delivering control 4 may also comprise a mounting cup 43 to which the fixing rim 64 of the container and/or the fixing rim 32 of the pouch are fixed, for example by crimping as commonly known by the person skilled in the art. The liquid- dispensing device 1 further comprises at least one homogenising solid inclusion 5 placed inside the pouch for homogenising the homogenised liquid mixture. The homogenising solid inclusion 5 is any solid object. The size of this solid object and the size of the filling opening 31 of the pouch are adapted to one another to enable the solid object to be inserted into the inner chamber 21 .

The at least one homogenising solid inclusion 5 may be bead-shaped or pin-shaped. More in particular, a pin-shaped homogenising solid inclusion 5 is generally cylindrical in shape, but may comprise an end portion that is frustoconical (see Fig. 3). Although they can be used for any homogenised liquid mixtures, these shapes work best for suspensions. The diameter of a bead-shaped homogenising solid inclusion may be about 0.5 mm up to the size of the filling opening, preferably about 1 mm up to the size of the filling opening. The size of the filling opening is its diameter. The dimensions of a pin-shaped homogenising solid inclusion may be about 0.5 mm up to the size of the filling opening, preferably about 1 mm up to the size of the filling opening, in diameter and about 5 mm to about 20 mm, preferably about 7.5 mm to about 17.5 mm, more preferably about 15mm lengthwise.

Alternatively, the at least one homogenising solid inclusion 5 may have the shape of an at least partially concave polyhedron, i.e. presenting at least one inwardly recessing edge or apex.

Although this shape works for any kind of homogenised liquid mixtures; it can be advantageously used for emulsions. Indeed, the concavity of the polyhedron creates frictions with the liquid phases that help to remix the liquid phases of the homogenised liquid mixture that starts to destabilise.

The more the polyhedron presents concave property the better suited it is for creating frictions within the homogenised liquid mixtures. Thus, the partially concave polyhedron is preferably a star polyhedron. Star polyhedra are polyhedral with repetitive property of non-convexity giving them a star-like visual quality. Some of them are described in the following articles: "Uniform polyhedra", H.S.M. Coxeter, M.S. Longuet-Higgins and J. CP Miller, in Pil. Trans., 246 A (1954), pp. 401 -450; "Regular Polytopes", H.S.M. Coxeter, Dover Publications, 1973, pp. 263 et seq.; and "The symmetries of things", Conway, John H., Heidi Burgiel, Chaim Goodman-Strass, 2008. Four examples are shown in figures 4 to 7; the apexes thereof are rounded to avoid punching through the pouch. The star polyhedron-shaped homogenising solid inclusion can be considered as virtually enclosed inside a sphere, the diameter of which is about 0.5 mm up to the size of the filling opening, preferably about 1 mm up to the size of the filling opening.

The density of the homogenising solid inclusion 5 is preferably greater than the density of the liquid constituents of the homogenised liquid mixture.

More precisely, the size and density of the homogenising solid inclusion are determined according to the viscosity of the homogenised liquid mixture and, for the size only, to the size of the filling opening. The viscosity of the homogenised liquid mixture is chosen to enable mechanical pulverisation of the homogenised liquid mixture.

The at least one homogenising solid inclusion 5 is preferably made of a material inert to the homogenised liquid mixture, for example stainless steel, glass or a polymer.

There may be one homogenising solid inclusion, two homogenising solid inclusions, three homogenising solid inclusions or more. The homogenising solid inclusions can be different in shape and size from one another.

The combination of the pouch 3, the delivering control 4 and the at least one homogenising solid inclusion 5 can form a semi-finished product called a liquid- dispensing assembly 2. Method for manufacturing the liquid-dispensing device

A method for manufacturing a liquid-dispensing device as described above will be detailed hereafter.

The method comprises:

fixing the fixing rim of the pouch to the delivering control, thereby forming an inner chamber; inserting the pouch through the insertion opening of the container, the pouch being placed entirely inside the container to form the outer space between the container and the pouch;

filling the outer space with pressurised fluid; and

fixing the fixing rim of the container to the pouch and/or the delivering control;

thereby obtaining the liquid-dispensing device.

The fixing steps can be carried out in many ways and in particular by crimping.

The pressurised fluid is preferably filled into the outer space to a pressure value of about 1 .5 to about 3.5 bars, the precise value of the pressure value is chosen in accordance with the nature of the homogenised liquid mixture to dispense.

Claims

1 . A liquid-dispensing device (1 ) for dispensing a homogenised liquid mixture, comprising:

a container (6);

a volume-variable pouch (3) placed inside the container (6); and

a delivering control (4) with a valve (41 );

wherein the container (6), the pouch (3) and the delivering control (6) are assembled to one another to form an inner chamber (21 ) enclosed by the pouch (3) for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture and an outer space (11 ) between the container (6) and the pouch (3) for receiving a pressurised gas such that in operation, the pressurised gas squeezes the pouch (3), thereby causing the homogenised liquid mixture to be driven from the inner chamber (21 ), through the valve (41 ) of the delivering control and to the ambient atmosphere when the valve (41 ) is actuated; wherein the liquid-dispensing device (1 ) further comprises at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) placed inside the pouch (3);

and

wherein the at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) is made of a material inert to the homogenised liquid mixture.

2. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) is bead-shaped or pin-shaped.

3. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) has a shape of an at least partially concave polyhedron.

4. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of claim 3, wherein the partially concave polyhedron is a star polyhedron.

5. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of any claim 1 to 4, wherein the inert material is stainless steel, glass or polymer.

6. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of any claim 1 to 5, wherein the pouch (3) is sharp-corner-free once it is filled up to its full capacity.

7. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of claim 6, wherein the pouch (3) has a substantially cylindrical lateral wall (33) and an outwardly domed bottom wall (34) extending from one end (331 ) of the cylindrical wall, the other end (332) of the cylindrical wall extends to a tapered wall (35) presenting a filling opening (31 ) fixed to the delivering control (4).

8. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of claim 7, wherein the cross section of the cylindrical lateral wall (33) is star-shaped with rounded arms.

9. The liquid-dispensing device (1 ) of any claim 1 to 8, wherein the pouch (3) is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), Nylon®, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) (also known as PEHD (polyethylene high-density)), PC (polycarbonate), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide) and mixtures or assemblies thereof.

10. A liquid-dispensing assembly (2) for a liquid-dispensing device with a container, in particular those adapted to dispense a homogenised liquid mixture, the liquid-dispensing assembly (2) comprising:

- a volume-variable pouch (3) to be placed inside the container; and

a delivering control (4) with a valve (41 );

wherein the pouch (3) and the delivering control (4) are assembled to one another to form an inner chamber (21 ) enclosed by the pouch for receiving the homogenised liquid mixture;

wherein the liquid-dispensing assembly (1 ) further comprises at least one homogenising solid inclusion (5) placed inside the pouch (3).

11 . A method for manufacturing a liquid-dispensing assembly comprising:

a volume-variable pouch with a filling opening surrounded by a fixing rim; - a delivering control with a valve; and

at least one homogenising solid inclusion;

the method comprising:

inserting the at least one homogenising solid inclusion inside the pouch through the filling opening of the pouch;

- inserting the delivering control at least partially through the filing opening of the pouch; fixing the fixing rim of the pouch to the delivering control to form an inner chamber;

thereby obtaining the liquid-dispensing assembly.

12. A method for manufacturing a liquid-dispensing device comprising:

a container with an insertion opening surrounded by a fixing rim;

a volume-variable pouch with a filling opening surrounded by a fixing rim; a delivering control with a valve;

at least one homogenising solid inclusion;

the method comprising:

fixing the fixing rim of the pouch to the delivering control, thereby forming an inner chamber;

inserting the pouch through the insertion opening of the container, the pouch being placed entirely inside the container to form an outer space between the container and the pouch;

filling the outer space with pressurised fluid; and

thereby obtaining the liquid-dispensing device.