U.S. patent application number 11/921501 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for device for filling of a container of collapsible type.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eco Lean Research & Development. Invention is credited to Stefan Forss, Lennart Friberg, Per Gustafsson, Rikard Wiren.
Application Number | 20090078337 11/921501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37498710 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090078337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gustafsson; Per ; et
al. |
March 26, 2009 |
Device for filling of a container of collapsible type
Abstract
A device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a
product in the form of powder or liquid, the container having a
compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume is
dependent on the relative position of the walls and which
communicates with the surroundings through a filling duct of the
container. The device comprises a filling tube (2) with an end
portion (5), which is insertable into the filling duct of the
container to supply a product to the compartment of the container
through the filling tube 2. The device further comprises an end
element (4), which is arranged in an outlet (6) of the end portion
(5) and which is movable between a first position, in which the end
element (4) sealingly connects to the outlet (6), and a second
position, in which the end element (4) together with the outlet (6)
defines a filling passage (7), and a squeezing means (3), which is
adapted to grasp the end portion (5) and the filling duct when the
end portion (5) is inserted into the filling duct to establish a
seal between the end portion (5) and the filling duct.
Inventors: |
Gustafsson; Per; (Bjarred,
SE) ; Friberg; Lennart; (Trelleborg, SE) ;
Forss; Stefan; (Helsingborg, SE) ; Wiren; Rikard;
(Hoganas, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Eco Lean Research &
Development
Copenhagen
DK
|
Family ID: |
37498710 |
Appl. No.: |
11/921501 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
June 2, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2006/000650 |
371 Date: |
December 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/313 ;
141/315; 141/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 39/004 20130101;
B65B 39/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/313 ;
141/315; 141/383 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/17 20060101
B65B003/17; B65B 39/08 20060101 B65B039/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2005 |
SE |
0501320-6 |
Claims
1. A device for filling a container (12) of a collapsible type with
a product in the form of powder or liquid, said container (12)
having a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose
volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls and which
communicates with the surroundings through a filling duct (13) of
the container (12), comprising a filling tube (2) with an end
portion (5), which is insertable into said filling duct (13) of the
container (12) to supply a product to the compartment of the
container (12) through said filling tube (2), characterised in that
the device further comprises an end element (4), which is arranged
in an outlet (6) of the end portion (5) and which is movable
between a first position, in which the end element (4) sealingly
connects to said outlet (6), and a second position, in which the
end element (4) together with the outlet (6) defines a filling
passage (7), and a squeezing means (3), which is adapted to grasp
the end portion (5) and the filling duct (13) when said end portion
(5) is inserted into said filling duct (13) to establish a seal
between the end portion (5) and the filling duct (13), said end
portion (5) of the filling tube (2) being made of a rigid
material.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said filling passage
(7) has the shape of a circumferential gap.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said end element (4) is
supported by a piston rod (9) arranged in said filling tube
(2).
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the end element (4) is
movable between said first and second position by axial movement of
said piston rod (9).
5. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which a bevel (17) is
arranged adjacent to the connection between said piston rod (9) and
said end element (4).
6. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said end element (4)
supports a seal (8), which when the end element (4) is arranged in
said first position engages the outlet (6).
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the end element (4) has
a shape tapering from the filling tube (2).
8. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the end element (4) has
the shape of a wedge.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the end element (4) has
a circular base.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the end element (4)
has a base in the shape of a convex lens.
11. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which said material is
stainless steel.
12. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said squeezing means
(3) comprises elastic engaging surfaces (11) which are arranged to
grasp said filling duct (13) and said end portion (5).
13. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said end element (4)
has a liquid-repellent surface.
14. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which said end element (4)
is supported by a piston rod (9) arranged in said filling tube
(2).
15. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which a bevel (17) is
arranged adjacent to the connection between said piston rod (9) and
said end element (4).
16. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which said end element (4)
supports a seal (8), which when the end element (4) is arranged in
said first position engages the outlet (6).
17. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said end element (4)
supports a seal (8), which when the end element (4) is arranged in
said first position engages the outlet (6).
18. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which said end element (4)
supports a seal (8), which when the end element (4) is arranged in
said first position engages the outlet (6).
19. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which said end element (4)
supports a seal (8), which when the end element (4) is arranged in
said first position engages the outlet (6).
20. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the end element (4)
has a shape tapering from the filling tube (2).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for filling a
container of a collapsible type with a product in the form of
powder or liquid, and more specifically such a device which
comprises a filling tube with an end portion, which is insertable
into a filling duct of the container to supply a product to the
compartment of the container through said filling tube.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Many different types of container to be filled with products
in the form of liquid or powder are currently available.
[0003] One type of container is collapsible and comprises two
flexible side walls and a bottom wall, which walls are
interconnected along a connecting portion to form a compartment
whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the
walls.
[0004] This type of container can, before filling, be in a plane
and sealed state. This makes it possible to sterilise the
compartment of the container in connection with manufacture and,
with maintained sterility, distribute the container to a filling
plant, such as a dairy.
[0005] A container of the type described above is known from
WO99/41155 which also discloses a device for filling the
container.
[0006] Said device comprises a nozzle which is insertable into a
filling duct of the container, said filling duct being opened by
cutting or a similar operation in connection with filling of the
container.
[0007] During the actual filling process, said nozzle is thus
inserted into the filling duct, after which a product valve is
opened to supply the desired product quantity to the compartment of
the container through said nozzle. The compartment will then take a
volume which substantially corresponds to the volume of the
supplied product. The filling process ensures that penetration of
air into the compartment is prevented or at least minimised.
[0008] The filling device disclosed in WO99/41155 comprises more
specifically a nozzle which is made of an elastic material, such as
silicone rubber. The nozzle has an end portion which tapers towards
an outlet in the form a gap in the lower end surface of the end
portion.
[0009] The nozzle is self-closing, which means that the edge
portions which define said gap engage each other in the absence of
application of outer forces.
[0010] During the filling process, the nozzle is, as mentioned
above, inserted into the filling duct of the container, after which
the product is supplied to the compartment through said nozzle. The
product pressure will act to open the nozzle and at the same time
to establish a seal between the nozzle and the walls of the filling
duct to ensure that air does not penetrate into the container.
[0011] Increasing demands are placed on the efficiency of filling
devices of the type described above and, thus, also on the speed at
which the device allows filling of an individual container.
[0012] Faster filling can be achieved with an increased product
flow velocity, which results in a higher product pressure. It has
been found that an increased product pressure may in some cases
result in the product being pressed out of the compartment of the
container between the nozzle and the walls of the filling duct. For
obvious reasons, this causes problems in maintaining a hygienic
environment in the filling device.
[0013] There is thus a need for a filling device which allows
efficient and rational filling of containers of a collapsible
type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of that stated above, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a device for filling containers of a
collapsible type, which device allows fast filling under hygienic
conditions.
[0015] To achieve this object, and also other objects that will be
evident from the following description, a device with the features
defined in claim 1 is provided according to the present invention.
Embodiments of the device will de defined in claims 2-14.
[0016] More specifically, according to the present invention a
device is provided for filling a container of a collapsible type
with a product in the form of powder or liquid, said container
having a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose
volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls and which
communicates with the surroundings through a filing duct of the
container. The device comprises a filling tube with an end portion,
which is insertable into said filling duct of the container to
supply a product to the compartment of the container through said
filling tube. The device is characterised by an end element, which
is arranged in an outlet of the end portion and which is movable
between a first position, in which the end element sealingly
connects to said outlet, and a second position, in which the end
element together with the outlet defines a filling passage, and a
squeezing means, which is adapted to grasp the end portion and the
filling duct when said end portion is inserted into said filling
duct to establish a seal between the end portion and the filling
duct.
[0017] The inventive device ensures that a container of a
collapsible type can be filled in a short time without the risk of
the product escaping from the container.
[0018] As mentioned above, the filling passage is defined by the
end element when the end element is in its second position. This
makes it possible to provide a relatively large area of the filling
passage, which in turn allows a rapid filling process. The filling
passage can be arranged to have the shape of a circumferential
gap.
[0019] At the same time the squeezing means ensures that the
product cannot escape from the container during said filling
process. To this end, the squeezing means is arranged to grasp the
end portion of the filling tube and the filling duct.
[0020] In one embodiment, said end element is supported by a piston
rod arranged in said filling tube, in which case the end element
can be movable between said first and second position by axial
displacement of said piston rod. A bevel may be arranged adjacent
to the connection between said piston rod and said end element.
This ensures that the product flowing out of the filling tube
through the filling passage is allowed to flow over the end element
relatively unimpededly.
[0021] In another embodiment, said end element supports an O-ring,
which in the first position of the end element engages the outlet.
This ensures that the end element in said first position sealingly
connects to the outlet.
[0022] In a further embodiment, the end element may have a shape
tapering from the filling tube. This makes it possible to
facilitate the insertion of the end portion of the filling tube
into the filling duct of the container. The end element may have
the shape of a wedge, in which case a base of the end element can
be circular or have the shape of a convex lens, also referred to as
a convex-convex lens.
[0023] In yet another embodiment, said end portion of the filling
tube can be made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel.
Furthermore the squeezing means may comprise elastic engaging
surfaces which are arranged to grasp said filling duct and said end
portion. As a result, the squeezing means can be made to carefully
grasp the end portion and the filling duct while at the same time a
reliable seal is established.
[0024] In a further embodiment, said end element has a
liquid-repellent surface. This makes it possible to minimise
dripping and depositing of product on the walls of the filling
duct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an
inventive device.
[0027] FIGS. 2 a-b are schematic perspective views which illustrate
a method for filling a container by means of an inventive
device.
[0028] FIGS. 3 a-b are schematic cross-sectional views which
illustrate the operation of an end element of the inventive device
during the method for filling shown in FIGS. 2 a-b.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of
an end element.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment
of an end element.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The present invention relates to a device for filling a
container of a collapsible type.
[0032] A container of this type may comprise two opposite side
walls and a bottom wall, which walls are inter-connected along a
connecting portion and define a compartment whose volume is
dependent on the relative position of the walls. A filling duct of
the container, which filling duct can be defined by said side
walls, makes its compartment communicate with surroundings. In the
unfilled state of the container, the filling duct can be sealed, in
which case the duct is opened before filling. This makes it
possible to ensure in a simple way that containers with sterile
compartments are used in the inventive device.
[0033] FIG. 1, to which reference is now made, illustrates an
embodiment of an inventive device 1 for filling the above described
container.
[0034] The device 1 comprises as main components a filling tube 2,
a squeezing means 3 and an end element 4.
[0035] The filling tube 2 is connected to a source (not shown) for
the product that is to be supplied to the container and is
terminated with an end portion 5. The end portion 5 has an outlet
6.
[0036] The end element 4 is arranged in the outlet 6 of the end
portion 5 and is movably arranged between a first position, in
which the end element 4 sealingly connects to said outlet 6, as
shown in FIG. 1, and a second position, in which the end element 4
together with said outlet 6 defines a filling passage 7, which is
shown in FIG. 3b. In the embodiment shown, said filling passage 7
takes the shape of a circumferential gap, but it will be
appreciated that other shapes are conceivable.
[0037] The end element 4 supports a seal 8 in the form of an
O-ring. In the first position of the end element 4, said O-ring
engages the outlet 6 of the end portion 5 to ensure that the end
element 4 sealingly connects to said outlet 6.
[0038] The end element 4 is supported by a piston rod 9 arranged
centrally in said filling tube 2. The piston rod 9 is axially
movable by means of a suitably designed arrangement, and by moving
said piston rod 9 in the axial direction, said end element 4 is
thus movable between said first and second position.
[0039] In the embodiment illustrated, the squeezing means 3
comprises a pair of jaws 10, which are arranged to grasp the end
portion 5 of the filling tube 2.
[0040] The end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is made of a rigid
material, such as stainless steel, and the pair of jaws 4 have
elastic engaging surfaces 11.
[0041] FIGS. 2a and b, to which reference is now made, illustrate
the method for filling a container 12.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 2a, a container 12 is first positioned
under the inventive device 1. The filling duct 13 of the container
12 has been opened by cutting or a similar operation, whereby the
compartment of the container 12 communicates with the surroundings
through said filling duct 13.
[0043] The positioning of containers can be performed in various
ways, for instance by means of an arrangement of laterally movable
gripping means, from which the containers are suspended (not
shown).
[0044] In FIG. 2b, the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is
inserted into the filling duct 13 of the container 12 with the end
element 4 in its first position. The squeezing means 3 has been
activated so that its pair of jaws 10 grasps the end portion 5 and
thus also the filling duct 13. Since the end portion 5 of the
filling tube 2 is made of a rigid material while the engaging
surfaces 11 of the pair of jaws 10 are elastic, a reliable seal is
established between said filling duct 13 and said end portion 5,
which does not risk damaging the side walls of the container 1,
which define said filling duct 13.
[0045] As mentioned above, the end element 4 is in its first
position when the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 is inserted
into the filling duct 13 of the container 1, which is shown more
distinctly in FIG. 3a.
[0046] When the squeezing means 3 has been activated so that its
pair of jaws 10 grasps the filling duct 13 and the end portion 5 of
the filling tube 2, the end element 4 can be moved to its second
position, which is shown in FIG. 3b. The product will then flow out
of the thus defined filling passage 7 and into the compartment of
the container 12. During the filling process, the compartment of
the container 12 will be expanded in response to the entering
product like a balloon which is being inflated. The seal provided
by the squeezing means 3 ensures that products cannot be pressed
out of the container 12 between the filling duct 13 and the end
portion 5 of the filling tube 2.
[0047] The filling process is terminated by the end element 4 again
being moved to its first position, after which the pair of jaws 10
of the squeezing means 3 is opened and the end portion 5 is pulled
out of the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Subsequently the
filling duct 13 can be sealed in a suitable manner, for instance by
a heat sealing process.
[0048] It will be appreciated that the time required for filling a
container 12 with the product in question is dependent on the flow
velocity of the product and also the area of the filling passage 7.
Since the end element 4 is movable between said first and second
position, said area can be adjusted as desired, by moving the end
element 4 to a suitable position between said first and second
position. In particular, the inventive device 1 makes it possible
to provide a relatively large area of the filling passage 7, which
for obvious reasons has a positive effect on the filling time of a
container 1. In the current context it should be noted that the
squeezing means 3 ensures that the rapid filling of the container
12 can be performed without the product escaping from the
compartment of the container 12.
[0049] The end element 4 can be designed in various ways and be
given a shape tapering from the filling tube 2 in order to
facilitate the insertion of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2
into the filling duct 13 of the container 12.
[0050] The end element 4 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an upper part 14
and a lower part 15 in the shape of a tapering wedge, which is to
be seen more clearly in FIG. 4.
[0051] The upper part 14 has been given a shape which substantially
corresponds to the shape of a convex lens. The upper part 14
further has a central through hole 16, which is enclosed by a bevel
17.
[0052] As mentioned above, the lower part 15 has the shape of a
tapering wedge. The upper side of the lower part 15 thus forms a
base which has a shape which, similarly to the upper part 14,
substantially corresponds to the shape of a convex lens. A
peripheral groove 18 is formed in the upper side of the lower part.
Finally, a central, threaded non-through hole 19 is formed in said
lower part 15.
[0053] The piston rod 9 has a connecting portion 22 provided with a
thread 20 and a stop lug 21. To connect the end element 4 to the
piston rod 9, the connecting portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is
inserted through the hole 16 in the upper part 14 until the upper
part is made to engage said stop lug 21. Then the connecting
portion 22 of the piston rod 9 is screwed into the threaded hole 19
of the lower part 15. A seal 8 in the form of an O-ring is arranged
in the peripheral groove 18 of the lower part 15, which O-ring thus
will be squeezed against the upper part 14. The O-ring ensures, as
described above, that the end element 4, when in said first
position, sealingly connects to the outlet 6 of the end portion 5
of the filling tube 2.
[0054] An end element 4 formed in the manner described above thus
has a shape which facilitates the insertion of the end portion 5 of
the filling tube 2 into the filling duct 13. An opening means (not
shown) can be arranged for initial separation of the walls of the
filling duct 13. This opening means may comprise suction cups which
stick to the respective duct walls, which suction cups are then
separated for separation of the duct walls.
[0055] The bevel 17 which encloses the hole 16 formed in the upper
part 14 ensures that the product flowing out of the filling tube 2
through the filling passage 7 is allowed to flow over the end
element 4 relatively unimpededly. This eliminates, or in any case
reduces, the tendency of the product flowing out to impinge on the
upper side of the end element and be deflected upwards or
sideways.
[0056] It will be appreciated that the present invention is not
limited to the shown embodiment.
[0057] For example, the end element 4 may have a liquid-repellent
surface. This minimises the risk of dripping and depositing of
product on the walls of the filling duct 13 after completion of the
filling and removal of the end portion 5 of the filling tube 2 from
the filling duct 13 of the container 12. Of course, this helps to
maintain good hygienic conditions in connection with the filling
process.
[0058] To prevent the product from depositing on the walls of the
filling duct 13 in connection with removal of the end portion 5 of
the filling tube 2, this can alternatively be dimensioned in such a
manner relative to the filling duct 13 that removal of the end
portion 5 is allowed without contact with the walls of the filling
duct 13.
[0059] It is also conceivable to give the end element 4 a different
shape. It can thus be in the shape of a tapering wedge with a
circular base, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The round base shape
results in the product, when flowing over the end element 4, having
a symmetric flow pattern, thereby making it possible to completely
eliminate the tendency of the product flowing out to be deflected
upwards or sideways.
[0060] Several modifications and variations are thus feasible,
which means that the present invention is exclusively defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *