U.S. patent application number 11/806363 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for portion feed device for packaging.
Invention is credited to Daniel Bossel, Gunther Holzwarth, Peter Kanscar.
Application Number | 20080044267 11/806363 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37313041 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080044267 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holzwarth; Gunther ; et
al. |
February 21, 2008 |
Portion feed device for packaging
Abstract
A portion feed device (2) for a packaging (1) features a chamber
(4) to accommodate a pourable solid product and a dispensing
facility (2) neighboring onto this chamber. When in use, the inner
tube (10) lies essentially horizontal and features inlet openings
(51) on the dispensing side. By rotating the inner tube (10) around
its main axis the inlet openings (51, 61) on the feed side can,
either in sequence one after another or simultaneously, be brought
into at least partial alignment or congruent agreement with the
inlet opening or openings (13, 16) on the chamber side and/or the
outlet opening or openings (14, 24). As a result of this rotation,
when in the open setting, these inlet openings (51; 13, 16) form at
least partially a passage between the chamber (4) and the
dispensing facility (2) and, in a closed setting no passage is
provided between the chamber (4) and the dispensing facility
(2).
Inventors: |
Holzwarth; Gunther;
(Kreuzlingen, CH) ; Bossel; Daniel; (Schaffhausen,
CH) ; Kanscar; Peter; (Zurich, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISHER, CHRISTEN & SABOL
1725 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 1108
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
37313041 |
Appl. No.: |
11/806363 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/403 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/06 20130101;
B65D 2583/049 20130101; G01F 11/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/403 |
International
Class: |
B65B 69/00 20060101
B65B069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 23, 2006 |
EP |
06116010.7 |
Claims
1. A portion feed device (2) for a packaging (1) with a chamber (4)
to accommodate a pourable solid product and a dispensing facility
(2) neighboring onto this chamber whereby, the chamber (4) facing
the dispensing facility (2) features at least one inlet opening
(13, 16) on the chamber side, and whereby the portion feed device
(2) features at least one inlet opening (11, 31, 51) which can be
rotated with respect to the inlet opening (13, 16) on the chamber
side that, in an open setting these inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13,
16) form at least partially a passage between the chamber (4) and
the portion feed device (2) and a closed position do not form a
passage between the chamber (4) and the portion feed device, an
inner tube (10), arranged essentially horizontal in the using
positions, is provided featuring the inlet openings (11, 31, 51,
61) on the side of the feeding device, and that by rotating the
inner tube (10) around its main axis, the inlet openings (11, 31,
51, 61) on the side of the feeding device can, either in sequence
one after another or simultaneously, be brought into at least
partial alignment or congruent agreement with the inlet opening or
openings (13, 16) on the chamber side and/or the outlet opening or
openings (14, 24).
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber walls (4)
are of flexible material which, usefully, forms a free-standing
areas (5) on both sides of the inner tube.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein within the regions
delimited by the free-standing areas (5) the portion feed device
(2) is integrated in the packaging, in particular that the region
between the free-standing areas (5) is covered over by an element
(21) providing a guarantee against interference or
interference.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the inlet openings (11,
31, 51; 13, 16) and outlet opening (14) are in the form of at least
one hole elongated in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube
(10).
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein at least one outlet
opening (24, 61) is provided on a cylindrical area of the inner
tube (10).
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a knob which turns (23)
is provided on a cylinder end face of the inner tube (10) as
actuating means for the inner tube (10).
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the inner tube (10) is
provided with a sleeve (30) which can be displaced inside or
outside in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube (10), by
means of which at least parts of the inlet openings (11, 31, 51;
13, 16) can be covered, in particular however, the volume can be
limited.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the inner tube (10) is
surrounded and moved by a rigid outer tube (12) which is attached
on the outside to a tapering end of a V-shaped pouch or is enclosed
securely by a corresponding bag.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein it is provided with an
attachment means, by means of which the device can be releasably
attached to a packaging.
10. A packaging with a portion feed device according to claim 8,
wherein the chamber (4) is flexible, the portion feed device is or
may be provided at the lower end of the packaging when in use, and
that at the opposite end of the packaging a suspension means (3,
53) is provided.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet openings
(11, 31, 51; 13, 16) and outlet opening (14) are in the form of at
least one hole elongated in the longitudinal direction of the inner
tube (10).
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one outlet
opening (24, 61) is provided on a cylindrical area of the inner
tube (10).
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a knob which turns
(23) is provided on a cylinder end face of the inner tube (10) as
actuating means for the inner tube (10).
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube (10) is
provided with a sleeve (30) which can be displaced inside or
outside in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube (10), by
means of which at least parts of the inlet openings (11, 31, 51;
13, 16) can be covered, in particular however, the volume can be
limited.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube (10) is
surrounded and moved by a rigid outer tube (12) which is attached
on the outside to a tapering end of a V-shaped pouch or is enclosed
securely by a corresponding bag.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein it is provided with an
attachment means, by means of which the device can be releasably
attached to a packaging.
17. A packaging with a portion feed device according to claim 1,
wherein the chamber (4) is flexible, the portion feed device is or
may be provided at the lower end of the packaging when in use, and
at the opposite end of the packaging a suspension means (3, 53) is
provided.
Description
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a portion feed device for a
packaging with a chamber to accommodate a pourable solid product
and dispensing facility neighbouring onto this chamber whereby, the
chamber facing the dispensing facility features at least one inlet
opening, which can be rotated with respect to the inlet opening on
the chamber side that, in an open setting these inlet openings form
at least partially a passage between the chamber and the dispensing
facility, and in a closed setting do not form a passage between the
chamber and the dispensing facility.
STATE-OF-THE ART
[0002] Known from the state-of-the-art is a series of devices which
permit the delivery of pourable solids. For example US 5,692,868
shows a device which can be suspended and features a deformable
storage pouch at the lower end of which a device for delivery of
material is provided. On opening the outlet, this device allows
faster delivery of the contents when the storage pouch is deformed
i.e. emptying out the pourable solid material.
[0003] Known from WO 2005/007539 is a further such device whereby
the opening of the lower outlet is controlled by string.
[0004] A portion feed device having the above mentioned features is
known from EP 0 787 979 where this delivery or feeding device is
clipped onto the chamber. By rotating a facility which actuates the
delivery device, around a vertical axis, the contents of the
chamber falls into one of several portion feed chambers depending
on the position of the actuating facility, out of which chamber the
contents can be emptied via an outlet opening. If the actuating
facility is moved into a particular position, then both the said
inlet openings from the chamber and feeding device, and also the
said outlet opening, are brought into line with respect to the
vertical axis, such that the contents of the chamber can fall
directly out of the chamber without controlled portion feeding.
[0005] Considering the mechanical properties of the device
according to EP 787 979, it makes sense to employ that device to
meet the demanding requirements needed for dispensing medicaments.
The same holds for controlled delivery e.g. of spices--such as is
indicated in the documents mentioned in the research report
relating to EP 787 979. In the case of packaging forms with
deformable chambers, in particular when the contents are volumes of
several litres and masses of several kilograms, especially when
these are for products intended for delivery to the end user, e.g.
packaging forms for animal feed or cleaning agents etc., the
devices mentioned at the start are impractical and the attached
portion feed devices can be damaged already at the sales points or
damage the deformable chamber of the storage pouch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Starting from the state-of-the-art, the object of the
invention is to provide a device of the kind mentioned at the start
which is usable for large amounts of products and in particular for
forms of packaging that form a deformable chamber.
[0007] This objective is solved by way of the features described in
claim 1, in that an inner tube--arranged essentially horizontal in
the using position--is provided featuring the inlet openings on the
side of the feeding device, whereby by rotating the inner tube
around its main axis, inlet openings on the side of the feeding
device can be brought, either in sequence one after another or
simultaneously, into at least partial alignment or congruent
agreement with the inlet opening or openings on the chamber side
and the outlet opening or openings.
[0008] A portion feed device for a packaging has a chamber to
accommodate a pourable solid product and feed device neighbouring
onto this chamber. In the using position the inner tube is arranged
in an essentially horizontal position which features inlet openings
on the feeding device side. By rotating the inner tube around its
main axis the inlet openings on the side of the feeding device can,
either in sequence one after another or simultaneously, be brought
into at least partial alignment or congruent agreement with the
inlet opening or openings on the chamber side an/or the outlet
opening or openings. As a result of this turning motion these inlet
openings, when in an open position, form at least partially a
passage between the chamber and the dispensing device, and in the
closed position no passage is provided between the chamber and the
dispensing device.
[0009] Furthermore, portioned amounts can be dispensed or delivered
in free-flow in suitable quantities in a simple manner. In one
version of the invention, it is possible to dispense fixed amounts
by simple rotation of the button effecting rotation. By appropriate
design of the inner tube continuous feed may be possible. Providing
a sleeve for the inner tube also makes it possible to dispense a
predetermined amount. Finally, the features allow for the provision
of an element providing a guarantee against interference by simply
covering the outlet openings in question.
[0010] Further advantageous exemplified embodiments of the
invention are described in the sub-claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is explained in greater detail with the aid of
exemplified embodiments in connection with the accompanying
drawings which show in:
[0012] FIG. 1 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a
packaging with a portion feed device according to a first
exemplified embodiment of the invention,
[0013] FIG. 2 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a lower
part of a packaging with a portion feed device according to a
second exemplified embodiment of the invention,
[0014] FIG. 3 a schematic, partially sectioned perspective view of
a self-standing pouch with a portion feed device according to a
third exemplified embodiment of the invention, and
[0015] FIG. 4 a schematic, partially sectioned perspective view of
a self-standing pouch with a portion feed device according to a
fourth exemplified embodiment of the invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a
packaging 1 with a portion feed device 2 according to a first
exemplified embodiment of the invention. The numeral 3 indicates a
facility for carrying and suspending the said packaging 1, onto
which facility a pouch-type packaging forming a chamber is
attached. The suspension means 3 may also contain an (upper)
closure for the pouch. The packaging may be rigid, semi-rigid or
flexible. It may be in the form of a sack or folding pouch and may
be of fibrous material, plastic films or another material. It may
be transparent or opaque. Fields of application are foodstuffs,
cleaning agents and other pourable solid goods. In retail outlets
such pouches are often offered on palettes, therefore the pouch
material is exposed to the influence of the surroundings. This
applies also to the portion feed device 2.
[0017] The packaging 1 is shown in an upright position in which it
is suspended by the suspension means 3. The packaging 1 can also be
presented for sale in this form. The packaging 1 then stands on two
regions 5 of chamber 4 which are filled with material and which are
separated from the cylindrical portion feed device 2. In
particular, the portion feed device 2 may comprise a central tube
10 with at least one portion feed opening which is arranged in the
longitudinal direction and is in FIG. 1 turned to the right. The
central tube 10 is introduced, with little play, into an outer tube
12 which features two facing openings 13 and 14. The space between
the two facing openings 13 and 14 is occupied by the inner tube 10
and its interior forms the portion feed chamber 20.
[0018] The outer tube 12 in the exemplified embodiment shown forms
at the side a wedge 15 with a flat base which belongs to the above
mentioned base areas 5 of chamber 4. The domed upper side of the
wedges 15 is usefully at least partially adhesively bonded to the
wall of the chamber 4. In a preferred exemplified embodiment there
are at least struts between the two wedges 15, in other words the
wedges may be of one and the same part.
[0019] Facing the inlet opening or openings 13 in the wedges 15/the
outer tube 12 are one or correspondingly several congruent openings
16 which in the following are referred to as chamber-side inlet
openings 16.
[0020] Numeral 21 indicates an element providing a guarantee
against interference which in this case is in the form of a film
which adheres to the regions 5 filled with material at least at the
corresponding bonding areas 22. This may be tab to simplify removal
of the element 21 providing guarantee against interference. The
element 21 providing guarantee against interference may also be
attached to the underside of the wedges 15 and to the outer tube
12. The existence of this film at the mentioned place guarantees to
the customer that the packaging in question has never been opened,
in particular when the opening is irreversible; that is e.g. a film
that has been raised cannot be attached again. The element 21
providing guarantee against interference may also be of other
materials than plastic film, e.g. of strut between the inner tube
10 and the surroundings, or a further sleeve enclosing the
packaging. Other versions are known to the expert in the field.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows the suspended packaging before use i.e. before
removing the element 21 providing guarantee against interference.
Under the assumption that this has been removed, one can see
immediately that the congruent openings 13 and 16 form one or more
inlet openings, which in FIG. 1 are blocked off from the inner tube
10. Material in chamber 4 can flow or trickle from the chamber 4
into the dispensing chamber 20 only when this inner tube 10--as
seen in FIG. 1 --is turned by 90 degrees in the anti-clockwise
direction such that also the inlet opening 11 lies facing the other
mentioned openings. The dispensing chamber 20 then fills with
material from the chamber 4. Following this, the inner tube 10 is
rotated 180 degrees such that the previous inlet opening 11 now
represents an outlet opening facing a corresponding outlet opening
14 in the outer tube 12.
[0022] The opening 14 in the outer tube 12 may also be provided
helix-shaped with an angle which is smaller than 180 degrees such
that the material can be fed from the system by rotating the outer
tube 12.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a
lower part of a packaging 1 with a portion feed device 2 according
to a second exemplified embodiment of the invention. The same
numerals indicate the same or similar features in all figures.
[0024] Apart from the difference that here the element 21 providing
guarantee against interference has been removed, the outer tube 12
has been bonded to the underside of the pouch 4, there are no
shape-forming wedges 15. Unlike FIG. 1 the inner tube 10 has at
least two facing openings 11 and 31 which, depending on the
arrangement in question, provide passageways 11 and 31 facing the
chamber-side inlet openings 13 and the outlet opening 14 thus
allowing the pourable solid material to be removed from the portion
feed device 2 via chamber 4 through a space formed by the
dispensing chamber 20.
[0025] Instead of the advantageous enclosure of the portion feed
device by the pouch 4 to protect it against interference, such as
is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portion feed device 2 may in
principle also be situated outside the chamber.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, partially sectioned perspective
view of a packaging 1 as free-standing pouch with a portion feed
device 2 according to a third exemplified embodiment of the
invention.
[0027] Here the chamber 4 is wedge-shaped, whereby the portion feed
device 2 forms the end of the blunted wedge. Chamber 4 is made up
of two rectangular films 41 which are closed at both sides via
films 42 running upwards. The base is formed by a film 43 which is
not seen here as it is concealed from view and which can in
particular be arranged on a suspension means 3. In storage, as
shown in FIG. 3, the pouch stands on this base film 43.
[0028] The portion feed device 2 comprises an outer tube 12 which
extends over the whole breadth of the chamber 4 and which can be
covered and held at both sides of the film 41. The packaging 1
according to FIG. 3 is shown with its elements transparent. The
chamber-side inlet 16 and the outer tube opening 13 are shown
schematically as one opening, whereby in this case two such
openings in the form of longitudinal holes are foreseen in the
longitudinal direction of the outer tube 12.
[0029] Foreseen on the outer tube 12 at one end is a knob 23 for
turning which seals tightly and which, however, is rotated against
the outer tube 12, as it is attached to the inner tube 10. At the
opposite end of the outer tube 12, at the side, in the wall closing
off the tube 12, is the outlet opening 24, which for example forms
a circular cut-out or sector, in particular forming an angle of
45.degree.. Any element providing a guarantee against interference
would, advantageously, be arranged over this end of the tube
12.
[0030] As explained, in the outer tube 12 is an inner tube 10,
which terminates at one side of the knob 23. Provided at the
opposite end in the inner tube 10 is an outlet side opening 61,
which lies congruent to the outlet side opening 24. The numeral 51
indicates both inlet openings which can be rotated to be congruent
with the openings 13/16. In a simpler version the outlet opening 61
with the closing cylindrical area may not be covered by a wall of
the outer tube 12 with an outlet opening 24. In that case this
opening 61 may be covered only by an element providing a guarantee
against interference.
[0031] This immediately explains the function of this exemplified
embodiment. On turning and usefully hanging up the packaging 1, and
on actuating the knob 23 for rotation, first the openings 51 are
brought into line with the openings 13/16, with the result that the
space 20 in the inner tube 10 is filled with the pourable solid
product from chamber 4. Provided the portion feed device is
slightly inclined, on turning the inner tube 10 into the position
shown in FIG. 4, the pourable solid product can be released through
the outlet openings 24/61.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a
packaging 1 with a portion feed device 2 according to a fourth
exemplified embodiment of the invention in use and suspended by a
suspension means 53 which is also shown in broken lines attached to
the base before use.
[0033] The portion feed device 2, as in the previous exemplified
embodiments, features inlet openings 13/16 and outlet openings 14.
Again, in the outer tube 12, is the inner tube 10 which features
openings 51. These may simply be arranged one behind the other as
in FIG. 3, or they may also be arranged facing each other, as shown
in FIG. 2. In any case all features, related to a figure and an
exemplified embodiment, are to be understood such that they can
also be related to other features in the other exemplified
embodiments i.e. for example in connection with wedges 15,
integration within the outer limits of the pouch and existence of
an element providing a guarantee against interference.
[0034] In addition to the rotation (arrow 33) of the inner tube 10,
it is possible to provide a sleeve 30 which is connected to this
and which allows an axial displacement 32. The sleeve 30 may, as
shown, project into the hollow inner tube 10 or may enclose it.
This way the axial displacement 32 may be achieved directly or by
way of rotating in a thread. It is essential that the front end of
the sleeve 30 is employed as a blocking plunger 34 which, after
axial displacement, is able to close off at least in part the
openings 13/16 independent of the position of rotation of the inner
tube 10, and/or delimits the volume of the dispensing chamber 20,
this in order to reduce the outflow and throughput of the pourable
solid material.
[0035] It can be seen especially in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the
invention also embraces exemplified embodiments in which the
portion feed device can be subsequently attached to the packaging.
In other words, the portion feed device may be a separate element
which e.g. has the roll-shaped form shown in FIG. 3. An inlet
opening 13, for example a single such opening 13, is then e.g. no
longer an elongated hole, but is made up of e.g. radial, outwards
facing rows of teeth to create an inlet opening 16 on the chamber
side. It is also possible for the base of a pouch-type packaging to
be cut open and to be sealed tightly around a corresponding
clamping facility of the portion feed device. In that case there is
no chamber-side inlet opening 16 as such; instead, when arranged
for using, the outer side of the portion feed device forms the base
of the pouch, whereby the pourable solid material can fall directly
into the inlet opening 13.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0036] 1 Packaging [0037] 2 Portion feed device [0038] 3 Suspension
means [0039] 4 Chamber [0040] 5 Region filled with material [0041]
10 Central tube [0042] 11 Portion feed opening [0043] 12 Outer tube
[0044] 13 Inlet opening [0045] 14 Outlet opening [0046] 15 Wedge
[0047] 16 Chamber-side inlet opening [0048] 20 Feed chamber [0049]
21 Element providing a guarantee against interference [0050] 22
Bonding region [0051] 23 Knob for rotating [0052] 24 Outlet side
opening [0053] 30 Sleeve [0054] 31 Throughput opening [0055] 32
Axial displacement [0056] 33 Arrow indicating rotation [0057] 34
Blocking plunger [0058] 41 Rectangular area [0059] 42 Side face
[0060] 43 Base area [0061] 51 Inlet opening [0062] 53 Suspension
means [0063] 61 Side outlet opening
* * * * *