Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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D 8513
PACKAGING CONTAINER HAVING FLEXIBLE BAG WITH
CLOSEABLE OUTLET BUNG IN RIGID OUTER CASE
BACKGROUND
1.0 Field of the Invention:
This invention relates generally to packaging containers,
and more particularly to packaging containers for accommodating
a liquid product which is formed by a flexible bag mounted in a
rigid outer case with a closeable outlet bung.
2.0 Discussion of Related Art:
,
An earlier, as yet unpublished patent application in the
name of the same applicant (P 38 41 353) relates to a packaging
container of this type in which the closeable container outlet
is preferably in three parts. The closeable container outlet
consists of a flexible bag, for example by welding to a fixed
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~ support, an outlet bung designed to be pressed into this
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support and a closure cap. The outlet bung is provided with a
laterally directed product outlet tube which branches radially
sidew'ays from an axially directed cylindrical inner tube of the
outlet bung, its outlet cross-section being designed to be
closed and opened by means of a cylindrical tube extending into
the inner tube ~ith a corresponding opening of a closure cap
rotatable relative to the outlet bung. The cross-section of
the cylindrical inner tube of the outlet bung is considerably
~ narrower than the cross-section of the support which can give
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rise to complications where media of relatively high viscosity
are used. However, this problem does not arise during filling,
because the outlet bung is separated from the support, and is
only pressed into the support after filling.
However, if the closure is made in two parts, i.e. if the
support and outlet bung consist of only one part onto which the
closure cap can be pressed, only the narrow cross-section of
the cylindrical inner tube of the outlet bung is available for
filling and emptying, with the result that filling in
particular is made slower, leading to longer filling times and
hence higher costs. Although the closure as a whole could be
made larger to obtain a larger cross-section, this would lead
to higher material costs and hence to higher production costs.
In addition, the packaging container would have to be made
larger to accommodate this larger closure.
3.0 Summary of the Invention:
An object of the invention is to provide a solution which
enables the closure of a container of the type in question to
be made in two parts in such a way that despite a minimal
consumption of material, the passage cross-section of the
`~ closure is as large as possible, while at the same time, a
reliable sealing effect is maintained.
Another object of the invention is to provide a compact
~ closure for a packaging container. In a packaging container of
; 25 the type mentioned above, the present invention in one
embodiment includes the tubular upper part integrally formed
with the lateral product outlet tube on the outer edge of a
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fixing flange, and the bung neck is extended beyond the fixing
flange into the lower end of the upper part beneath the product
outlet tube, by means of an inner tube section, in such a way
that an annular gap is formed between the upper part and the
inner tube section for sealingly receiving the inner tube of
the closure cap.
The present invention with a bung/tap closùre, ensures
that the full opening cross-section of the container opening in
the outlet bung is available for filling of the container,
because all guide, sealing and locking elements are situated
outside the container opening. Even after the closure cap has
been pressed in, there is no reduction in the passage cross-
section relative to the container opening right up to the
product outlet tube, so that this closure may also be used
without difficulty for media of relatively high viscosity. The
sealing effect is better than in the known closure system
because the opening of the closure cap and the outlet cross-
section of the product outlet tube in the closed position are
further apart from one another. In addition, the closure saves
space and material because it is simpler in design than the
~ known closure, i.e. for example it requires no cylindrical
;~ inner tube in the outlet bung.
One advantageous embodiment of the invention includes an
encircling snap bead arranged in the region of the annular gap
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~ 25 on the upper part of the outlet bung, and at least one
- encircling snap groove formed at the lower end of the
cylindrical tube of the closure cap. This connection between
the closure cap and the outlet bung provides for safe locking
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of both elements and for effective guiding of the closure cap
in the outlet bung, during turning of the cap to open or close
the container. The connection between the two elements is
established by pressing in the closure cap after filling of the
container.
In a preferred embodiment, two encircling snap grooves
are formed at the lower end of the cylindrical tube of the
closure cap. By means of this additional snap groove, the
closure cap may be initially pressed onto the outlet bung in a
pre-fit position before filling of the container by pressing in
the closure cap only until the snap bead of the outlet bung
snaps into the lower snap groove of the closure cap. For
filling, the closure cap is removed, and after filling, is
pressed fully into the outlet bung, i.e. by snapping of the
snap bead in the second snap groove.
In another embodiment, particularly effective sealing
between the outlet bung and the closure cap is obtained, via
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the inner tube section of the outlet bung widening conically
towards the fixing flange in the region of the annular gap, and
the lower end of the cylindrical tube of the closure cap being
beveled correspondingly conically inward. After the closure
cap has been fully pressed in, these conical sealing surfaces
bear sealingly against one another.
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Another advantageous embodiment of the invention includes ~ ~
25 the closure cap surrounding the upper end of the upper part of ~ -
the outlet bung with a cylindrical outer wall to form a second
~annular gap. This design of the closure cap provides a second -
;~guide between the closure cap and the outlet bung, which makes -
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the closure cap easier to turn for opening and closing.
In yet another embodiment, an encircling snap bead is
arranged on the cylindrical tube of the closure cap in the
region of the second annular gap, and at least one inner
encircling snap groove is formed at the upper end of the upper
part of the outlet bung. Two inner encircling snap grooves may
also be formed at the upper end of the upper part of the outlet
bung. This additional locking mechanism at the upper end of
the outlet bung further improves guiding between both elements,
the provision of two snap grooves also creating an additional
locking effect in the pre-fit position.
Finally, in another embodiment of the invention, the
outlet cross-section of the product outlet tube and the opening
of the cylindrical tube of the closure cap are oval in shape.
The outlet cross-section or the opening is provided with a
peripheral bead on the mutually opposite side. This embodiment
with the enlarged outlet cross-section is particularly
appropriate where media of relatively high viscosity are to be
used. The additional peripheral bead in the connection zone
guarantees safe sealing between the outlet bung and the closure
cap, insuring that the product is unable to flow out
unintentionally.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Examples of various embodiments of the invention are
described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which like items are identified by the same
reference number, wherein:
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Fig. 1 is a cross-section through an outlet bung
according to the invention on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outlet bung shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section through a closure cap for the outlet
bung shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the closure cap of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a section on a larger scale through part of an
outlet bung with the closure cap in the pre-fit position.
Fig. 6 is also a section on a larger scale throuqh the ~-
outlet bung shown in Fig. 5 with the closure cap in its final-
fit position. ~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION -
Provided in a multiple-ply carton 1, of a packaging ~ ;
container shown purely schematically in Figure 1, is an outlet
bung generally denoted by the reference 2, on the neck 3 of
which a flange 4 is integrally formed in the form of a welding
flange. A plastic bag 5 arranged in the carton 1 is welded in
liquid-tight manner to flange 4. The opening of the welding
flange 4 is situated directly over an opening 6 of the plastic
bag 5.
The outlet bung 2 comprises an encircling fixing flange
or edge 7 on the outer rim of which is integrally formed a
tubular upper part 8, of which the internal diameter is larger
`~than the internal diameter of the bung neck 3. A product
outlet tube 9 directed radially sideways with an outlet cross-
section 10 is provided on one side of the upper part 8. A
shoulder 12 is formed at the upper free end 11 of the upper
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part 8, extending over slightly more than quarter of a circle
and being arranged diagonally opposite the product outlet tube
9 (see Fig. 2).
The bung neck 3 is extended beyond the fixing flange 7,
into the interior of the cylindrical upper part 8 below the
product outlet tube 9, into an inner tube section 13. An .
encircling annular gap 14 is formed between the upper part 8
and the inner tube section 13.
A closure cap for the outlet bung 2, generally denoted by
the reference numeral 15, is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The
closure cap 15 comprises a cylindrical tube 16 with a lateral
opening 17, of which the opening cross-section corresponds to
the outlet cross-section 10 of the product outlet tube 9 at the
: outlet bung 2. The cylindrical tube 16 is closed at its upper
end by a head plate 18 on which is integrally formed a
cylindrical outer wall 19, which projects beyond the outer
diameter of the cylindrical tube 16, forming a second annular
gap 20 between the cylindrical outer wall 19 and the
cylindrical tube 16, for fitting onto the tubular upper part 8
~: 20 of the outlet bung 2.
A projecting stud 21 is provided in the second annular
gap 20 offset through about 90 to the position of the opening
17. The stud 21 is slightly lower in height than the shoulder
12 on the outlet bung 2. A web 22 is integrally formed
parallel to the axis of the opening 17 on the upper side of the
head plate 18.
A complete closure with the outlet bung 2 and closure cap
15 is shown in various positions in Figs 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows
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a pre-fit position of the closure cap 15 relative to the outlet
bung 2. This means that, at the production stage, the welding
flange 4 of the outlet bung 2 is first welded to the plastic
bag 5. Next, the closure cap 15 is pressed onto the outlet
bung 2 in such a way that a certain minimum interval, for
example of 3.0 mm, remains between the lower end of the
cylindrical outer wall 19 of the closure cap 15 and the upper
edge of the product outlet tube 9 of the outlet bung 2.
To this end, an encircling snap bead 23 is formed on the
upper part 8 of the outlet bung 2 in the region.of the annular
gap 14. Two encircling snap grooves 24, 25 are provided above
one another at the lower end of the cylindrical tube 16 of the
closure cap 15. In addition, an encircling snap bead 26 is
formed on the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 2 in the
region of the second annular gap 20. Snap bead 26 is designed
to snap into two inner encircling snap grooves 27, 28 at the
upper end of the upper part 8 of the outlet bung 2.
In the pre-fit position shown in Fig. 5, the lower snap
groove 24 in the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 15
engages over the encircling snap bead 23 of the outlet bung 2.
~: At the same time, the upper snap groove 27 in the upper part 8
~: engages in the snap bead 26 around the cylindrical tube 16.
The lower end of the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 15
is àlready engaged in the annular gap 14 of the outlet bung 2,
while the upper end 11 of the upper part 8 of the outlet bung 2
¦~ is already engaged in the second annular gap 20 of the closure
cap 15.
In this pre-fit position, the packaging container plus
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closure may then be introduced into a filling machine where the
closure cap 15 is removed, by corresponding parts of the
machine, before filling of the plastic bag 5. After filling,
the container is finally closed by pressing closure cap 15 into
a final-fit position.
During the closing step in the final-fit position (Fig.
6), the closure cap 15 passes over the previous snap connection
between the groove 24 and the bead 23, and between the groove
27 and the bead 26, by penetrating at the lower end of its
cylindrical tube 16 into the annular gap 14 until the upper
snap groove 25 in the cylindrical tube 16 snaps into the snap
bead 23 around the outlet bung 2. At the same time, the lower
snap groove 28 in the upper part 8 of the outlet bung 2 snaps
into the snap bead 26 around the cylindrical tube 16 of the
closure cap 15, so that a firm connection is established
between both components.
;~ To guarantee a liquid-tight connection between the
closure cap 15 and the outlet bung 2, the inner tube section 13
of the outlet bung 2 is provided in the region of the annular
gap 14 with a conical annular surface 29, while the lower end
of the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 15 is provided
with a corresponding conical surface 30 on the inside. In the
final-fit position, the surfaces 29, 30 bear sealing against
one another, although a narrow air gap 31 is left in the
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annular gap 14.
From the open position shown in Fig. 6, the container can
be closed by turning the closure cap 15. To this end, the
closure cap 15 may be turned through about 90 along the
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shoulder 13 of the upper part 8 by means of the web 22.
Further turning is prevented by the stud 21 on the closure cap
15. Through the turning movement, the opening 17 in the
cylindrical tube 16 is moved away from the product outlet tube
9, closing the outlet cross-section 10 via the wall surface of
the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 15.
To enlarge the outlet cross-section 10 of the product
outlet tube 9, the outlet cross-section 10 and the opening 17
in the cylindrical tube 16 of the closure cap 15 can be made
oval in shape. In order to guarantee adequate sealing in this
embodiment, the outlet cross-section 10 or the opening 17 is
provided with a peripheral bead 32 on the mutually opposite
side, as shown in Fig. 6. An enlarged outlet opening such as
this is appropriate, for example, in cases where the packaging
container~is used for media of relatively high viscosity.
The invention is not meant to be confined to the examples
of various embodiments shown in the drawings, and described
herein for purposes of illustration. Further embodiments of
the invention are possible without departing from the basic
scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example, the
~; additional peripheral bead 32 may be provided for particularly
free-flowing media, even where the product outlet tube 9 has a
round outlet cross-section 10.
