Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOS' ' A.N~ POtJRlNG SP~UT FOR A LIQUI~ POWDERE;D OR GRANULA~ED PRODUCTS
PACKING CONTAINER
TECHN I CAL F I ELD
~his invention relates to packa~iny and the distribution of liquid,
powdered or granulated product5 which are to be removed ,n successive
doses ~rom a container to be distrib~ted for ~he purpose of usage.
~EVl~US TECHNIQUE
~o satisfy the above requirement, the previous technique proposed a
numbeI of solutions whi~h concern means directly incorpo.ated into t~le
~sable volume of the packagiog container specifically manufactured for
this purpose. This is tne case o~ the texts ~ound in Frencll patents 1
586 932, 1 590 565, 2 0~1 809 (69-36 ~27) and 2 209 357 (73-39 869).
~n all the solutions proposed by these publications, dosage and
distribution means are discussed whi~h are constituted by partitions
walls disposed in chicanes realative to each other in such a way th~t
after several tipping movements of the container a dose of the produ~t
is confined in a temporary packaging cavity from which the dose can be
distributed.
The first drawback of Ihe method described above lies in the
~ifiiculty of making a visual evaluation of the constitution of th~
dose ~hen manipulatin~ ~he container. Thus users have no way of
checking that t~e product i;lows correctly, that the exact dosage has
be~n constituted nor of altering the dose to meet their requirements.
Another drawback of the techniques is that dosage and distribution
~ethods can neither ensure a~urate distrib~tion dosaye nor effective
sealiny of the dosage means nor of the u~able volume of the container
or packaging.
The toregoing prevents these technical means to be ~sed for dosage and
distribution o~ ligllid, powdered and yranulated products with strong
hygroscopic properties leading to the impossibility of emptying once
products have aggregated. Such products are commonly used domestically
ior food products the storage conditions of which frequently imply the
dllr~bility of the flavour characteristiCs h~hich are us~ally modified
by Permanent contact with ambient humidity.
'I'~.is purpose o~ t~is invention is to counter this problem b~ the use
of a new dosin~ and pouring spout the specific design of which enable~
it.s adaptation as an integral part of a pacXaging contalner either as
an integral part of the seal cap of the container or as an accessory
adapated to a container or a seal cap.
~nother object of the invention is to propose a dosing and pouring
spout which both meet~ the ~bove objective and is easy to manufdcture
at an interesting co~t by addit!onally providing the possibility of
distributing variable produ~t doses within a range nf settings,
An additional advantage of the design of the invention lies in the
eapacit~ provided by the spout to distribute accurate, repeatable
doses rapidly without altering the properties of the remainder of the
product in the packaging container.
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2 ~ ~$ s~, ? ,i,i ~ ,~
Ano~ ~r object of the inventlon lies in the possibility o~ producirlg,
~irectly or indirectly, a packasing con~alner ~hioh, al.hougn fitte~
wi~h a do~ing and pouring spout looks l~ke a conventional container
with the same characteristios and advantages for manufacturing,
filling, storage and stdcking.
~E'rAI~S CONCERNI~G ~HE INVEN~iON
To attain the o~je~tives described above, the doslng and pouring 5pout.~onsid~red as the invention in^lud~ :
- a par-tition with a least one opening
~ ~t least one tubular or similar co~ponent, at least one transparert
p~rt, ~oined by a first end of one of the parti~ion fac~s to surroun~
~ne opening o~ which the general direction of the longitudinal axis
forms an angle between 0 and 90~ to the ~ace of the partition and
w~iCh defines a dosage chamber open at its second end,
- and a shut-o'f val~e ~ith ~anually controlled elas~ic return, ~itte-3
t~ the tubular component normally to close the second end.
BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF ~E DR~WlN~S
Sonle other characteristics and advantages of the object of the
inven~ion are shown in the foll~ing desr~ip~ion, to ~e cons~dered in
relation to the dra~ings in which :
Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional elevatlon of an example of the
wa~ the object of the invention co~ld be n~ade,
E~igures 2 & 3 are outline vie~s illustra~ing on a smaller sca'e two
implementa~ion variations.
~`igure 4 is a cross-sectional elevation illustrating on ~ larger scale
an implementation characteristic of one of the elements w~ich
p~rtially constitutes the objeet of the invention,
Fi~ures 5 & 6 ~re cross-sections showing implementation variatiOtls of
some of the dosing and pouring spout elements,
Figure 7 is an outline view illustrating t~e use of the ob~ect of the
invention.
~igure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation showing on a larger scale
ano~her partial implementation shape of the object of the invention~
qures 9 and l0 are outline views relating to the use of the example
given in Figure 8,
F`igures ll & 12 are cross-sectional elevations showing on a larger
scale t~o other implementation variations o~ the object of .he
invention.
Figure~ 13 ~ 15 are outline v~ews showing implementation variations.
~l~HE BEST WAY TO IMPLEME~'T TH~ INvENTIo~
In Ihe first implementation example s~own in Figure l, whicn appears
~o be the least costly and most simple way, the dosing and pouring
spout designated overa!l as Regerence 1, lncludes a support partition
2 which has at least one openin~ 3. Par~ition Z can be part of a
packag~ 4 or a cap 5 as the top o~ this latter, for example. Pa~titio
2 can also be made, as shown ~n ~he drawing, as a platen adaptabl~
inside partially recessed cap ~, the top of which is then materialise~
by a shoulder or rim 6 against which a platen of this type can be
~eld so as ~o be removable or not. CaP 5 is then fitted so as to be
removable with the inssertion of seal 7 on collar 8 of container 4.
~r~ dosing and pourins spo~t lncludes a tubular or similar component
implemented in an at least partially transparent material mar~ed Wi~l
graduated level scales and the lo~itudinal x-x~ axis of which can ~e
either straight as s~own in Fig. 1, or curved as shown in ~ig. 2.
Tu~ular co~ponent 9 possesses a first open end lG which i5 joined to
sopport palte 2. Joining can be the resul~ of single unit prod~ction,
~or example ~y moulding or by a connection between component 9 and
partition 2 by glueing or a s'milar process or by insertion of a male
part lOa of component 9 into additiondl part 3a adjacent to opening
as shown in Fig. 3.
In everY case, tub~lar component 9 surrounds opening ~ in such a way
that its x-x' axis passes throu~h the opening forming a preferahly
acute anyle ~ with parti~ion 2 in the O to 90 range,
If component l is implemented as a cap or oap accessory, open~n~ 3 i~
:nade as close as possible to the edge of partition Z and the tub~lar
component preferably is of a lenyth selected as a function of angle O
sn tha~ the second open end 11 is included within the projection o~
~he spatial requirement of cap 5.
~t should be considered that a similar support partition 2 could
include more than one opening 3 each of which surrounded by a tubulat
component ~ with w~ich each would co~pose a dosing and pouring spo~t.
Second open end 11 of tubular component 9 is associated with a out-oE~
l~ capable o~ closing end 11 to define, by the internal vol~me of
I tubul~r compenent 9, a dosage chamber 13 in permanent communica~lon
.h usable ~olume 14 of pac~age 4 via opening 3. Cut-off 12 is a type
n~ clack-valve with a~ elastic return directly commanded or commanded
by a trigger, support~d by tubular component 9.
The clack-valve type cut-off, as shown in Figs. l and 4, includes cut-
of~ plate 15 made from any suitable rigid material which i5 fitted to
tubular component 9 via hinge or articulation part 16 and an elastic
return function in the closed position of chamber 13. For this
purpose, part 15 can, advantageously, be made with a shaped spriny
blade which is an integral paxt of or joined to t~bular component
and plate 15.
Cut.-o~f 12 includes a seal~ng liner l? on t~e ~ace o~ ~he plate
! directed towards open end 11. SEaling liner 17 is preferably comprised
of a film 18 covering and holding in place a padding cushion-buffer or
. similar l9. A cushion of this type can advantayeously ~e made oE
~uitable foam material or by a capsule or by a gas or liquid load.
4 ~ ?~ $'~
Seal 'iner 17 works wi~h seat~ng ~ presente~ by t~e open ~ransveIsal
erld in the sh~pe o~ a peripheIal continuous fin arising, for
exampie, from the presence of chamfer 21. Preferably, fin ~0 is
limite~ by a straight edge to provide a bearing surface able to work
in the best conditions with seal liner 17. Under the continuous action
of of elastic return exerted by part 16, seal liner 17 ;s pressed
against seating 20 which ls partially imprinted into the thickness of
pa~ding cushion 19 through fil~ 1~ thus creating peripheral sealin~
isolati~g dosage chamber 13 from the ambient environment.
~ubular component 9, part of the dosing and pouring spout can be of
any suitable shape in a straight cross-section such as 'he circula
form shown in Fig. ~. In some cases, tubular component 9 can be a
curvilinear trian~ular shape hlth rcunded pea~s as shown in F'ig. 6.
C)pening 3 in support partition 2 feeds a single pourer (22). In a
preferred construction approac~., pourer (22) is made in suc~ a way
that opening 3 prDvides ~he smallest usable passage in a straight l~r~e
to the spout for reasons developed below.
~ependin~ on t~e shapes and forms selected ~or oPening ~ and tubular
component 3, this latter can surround the opening widely or be close-
set.
~n the application to a -ontainer or package for do~estic products,
the dosing and ?o~ring spout described above is used in the follvwing
way.
Wherl constituting and distributing a dose of product P contained in
the paokaging container 4, users orientate tubular component 9 a~
sho~n in Fig. 1, then rota~e and tilt con~ainer 4 in the direction of
~rrow fl, u~til the mass of product P is deposited at a higher level
~han spout 22. In this way, produc~ P flows i~to ch~mher 13 which i9
clo~od by cut-~fL lZ.
A precise dose, visually evaluated by ~sers, is established by
rotating the container in the opposite direction after chamber 1.~ ha~
filled so that the product is aligned with the threshold of pourer
(~Z) as shown in Figure 7.
~n this position users only have to exert pressure on cut-off plate 1~,
in the direction shown by arrow f2 to pivot it thus enabling the
o~ening of the second transversal section 11 and the emptying of dose
of product P into anot~er con~iner.
After empt~ing dose D, users ter~inate their action in the direction
oE arrow fZ and ~elease cut-off plate 15 h~hich is rapidly returned by
spring 16 to its position against seating 20. The return impact oI
plate 15 when closing chamber 13 removes any product adhering either
to seating 20 or to film 18 or to tubular component 9. 7n this way,
sealing is induced without intervention b~ users who only have to
implement a tipping, opening and release sequence on the cut-off to
obtain an accurate dose without risk of retention. The release and
~limination of traces of product on plate 15 and on the seating ensure
that chamber 13 is perfectly clean when the next dose D i5 prepared.
.. ..
The remainder of product P in oontainer 4 is fully isolated fIom any
permanant contact wit~ the ambient environment which ensures c~rre~t
Elow and CQnserveS t~e intrinsic essentlal characteristics of ~he
product, such as fl~vour in slightly, moderatel~ ana even stron~ly
hygroscopic food products. The same ap~lies to packaging, dosagc and
distri~ution of liquid produc~s of ~ more or less volatile nature.
It should be considere~ that ~he specific shape of pourer (~2) ~esults
in an opening ~ with a usable ~assage cross-section which becomes
narrower close to pourer (22). In this way, when tipping as shown by
arrow fl, product P is obliged to flow into the wider cross-section
passage of opening 3 which erables rapid effective filling o~ chamber
l~ ~nd ensure~ ~hat doses are a~ways ~ccurate. This dose can be
adjusted, after ~sing t~le filling procedure described above, by
tipping container q in the opposite direction from shown by arrow fl
to induce a counter-flow of product P between chamber 13 and volume
l4. In this way, product P, inle~ to chamber 1~ is o~liged ~o ret~n
via the smallest passage cross-section of opening 3. In this way it ;s
~ossible to adjust dose D a~cu;ately without risk of the major par~ oi
.his dose re~urning to volume 14 when counter-tipping conatiner 4.
~ig. ~ shows an advanta~eous arrangement cor.sisting in inclu~ing i~l
the wall of tubular component 9 a local necking 40 located in the
peripheral part o~ the wall opposite pourer ~2). It is preferable to
~hape necking 40 with ~ shallowly inclined part 40a commencing from
close to the base of tubular component 9 surrounding oper.ing 3. Part
40a defines, inside chamber 1~, a convergence 41 ~he cross-section of
t~e usable passage of which progressively decreases until it joins
~ith part 4~b which is steeply inclined. Part 40~ operates, inside
tubular compo~ent 9, divergence 42 opening towards txansversal cross-
~ection 11. Preferably, part 40b is located in virt~al alignment Wit}
pourer (22), considerin3 a directio~ y perpendicular to the plane cf
support partition ~.
Necking 40 is desi~ned to comprise, ~fter the first filling t~p shown
in Fig. 9, a shoulder braking the return of the product followin~ dOS~
D
when the container is tlpped baok again, as shown in Fig. 10.
RIa~ing, used in conjunction wi~h pourer (22) enables the dose users
require to be adjusted accurately, i~mediately and without precautior
in chamber 13.
T~e invention means that it ~ s also ~)ossible to envisage fitting the
dosing and po~rin~ spout with means of adju~ting the quantity of the
dose rapidly and without precaution. One example of implementation is
shown in Fig. ll in which such means of dosage designated ~y reference
50 use a tubular rin~ 51 mounted freely to slide telescopically on
t~bular component 9. Segment 51 can be immobilized axially via l~ck
part S2, such as an inlet valve needle, traversing tubu~ar ring 51 to
work with axial gro~ve 53 presented ~y tubular component 9. SEaling
bellows 54 is t~en fitted between ring 51 and tubular component 9 to
isolate dosase chamber 13 from the ambient environment.
.~
shows another implementation ~f ~esource 50 whic~ in this case
is ~i~ted with part 60 of the periphery of tubular component 9 made
from flexible ma~eria1 and capable of ~ccupying either a positi~n
towards the exterior as shown by the combined dashes or a position
~ow2rds the in~eriDr protruding inside the usable volume of c~lamber
the volume of whic~l is t~us reduced. The ~hi.t from o~e position to
the other can be induced by pressure which makes an elastic flip-flop
deform and which in t~is way impa~ts a sort of memory to part o~
~eformable partition ~0,
Othel means of dosage setting cdn be envisaged. Liner 17 of cut-o~f i
c~n be made in such a way as to make it elastically deforma~le ~ia
set screw supported by cut-of f plate 1~.
Using the methods descri~ed above, it becomes po~sible to seal a
pac~aging container and to extract from it rapidly an ac~urate,
repea~able and adjustable dose o~ the product it contains without
E~lacing the remainder of the product in durable contact with an
am~ient environment likely to ~lter it.
FuIthermore, the means in the invention do not use any type Of
~d~lstment part, even ~echanical, the ope~ation of which, ~ric,ion or
relative ~otion could ca~se da~ags to the product to be distriibuted
or any risk of clogging likely to rende~ ~he dosing and pouring spout
ineffective.
The co~bined dashes in Fig. 1 show an impleme~tation variation
selected to enable stacking despite the protruding part form~d ~y
tubular csmponent 9. In this example tubul~r component Y is covered by
cap 70 attached to cap 5 by any known attachment method.
Figure 13 shows an applicatio~ of the dosing and pouring spout to a
container 70 with a similar or larger capacity th~n that of thc
domestic containers considered above, Container 70 is, for eY~ample~
titted to rotate on shaft 71 either manual!y or driven by a motor.
Container ?D is a tank, refillable or not, into whic~ a volume of
product has been inlet in su~h a way as to represent a vol~me lower
t~an the usable volume of the tank. The container rotates as shown by
arrow f3 for reasons de~eloped below.
Container 70 is fitted with, on its peripheral partition wall and in
~reference close to one of the transversal partition walls, at least
one dosing and pouring spout as described in the invention and above.
As the adaptation shown in Figs. 13 & 14 shows, container 70 has an
intermediate capacity 72 delimited by partition wall 2 to which
tubular component 9 i~ ~ttached, Preferably, in thi~. application,
tubular component 9 is orientated externally to the transversal
partition wall as in 732, so as to enable cooperation between cut-of~
12 ~nd a fixed position stop or similar 74.
F_o~ a state such as that shown in combined dashes in ~ig. 14, the
powdered product fills capacity 72 occupying the lower position.
Rotation in the direction of arrow f3 ~r~dually brings capacity 72 to
the upper p~sition with a circul~r trajectory which enhances filling
of spout 1. This operational phase is the equivalent of that described
in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive.
,.. . .. _. _ __~_ ___ __ __, . _.. _, . , . , ., _ . __, , _ _ . ,, ... , . . ,, ~ .. , ,_ . , ~. . . .. .. .. ~ .
,, ., _ . .. . .
In tl.~ up~er position, tubular ~omponent 9 is filled completely and
~an be emptied manually or autom~tically by c03per~ion bet~een oa~
and stop 74.
For each rotation o~ tank 70, spo~t 1 can deliver a dose of ~,roduct toa hopper o~ other filling device.
In an applic~tion suc~ as that s~lown in Figs. 13 ~ 14, container '/0
c~n be fitted wi~h several capacities ~2 iit.ed with spout 1 ~nd
~qually spaced apart or non-~ngularly.
Container 70 can also be fitted with a fixed or mobile inte nel mixeJ
to enhance product mixture when container 70 is rotated. ~n intern~l
Mixture can comprise an arm, a hoop, a stirrup, etc...
~ontainer 70 ~an be o~ any suitable shape and type and fit~ed to a
~ixed or mobile workstation as ~art oi a pIo~essing, conditioning,
mixing plant, or not, or u~ed for pastes, powders and gr~nul~ted
pIoduct~,
~i~. 15 shows another variation in which pourer ~2 is bordered by
strip or blade 75 designed to scrape the product to ena~ance spout
filling, more specifically but not exh~ustivel~ for u6e in an
~pplication in which the conatainer is a rotating tank 70.
POSSlBLE INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
This invention can be advantageously applied to condition~ng
containers for powdered ~ood produ~ts.
