Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2022/0198805
PCT/RU2021/000309
DEVICE FOR UNLOADING OF PACKAGE CONTENTS
Field of invention
The claimed technical solution relates to devices arranged on container
packages
in order to unload the package contents.
Background
The prior art discloses numerous packages manufactured from flexible
materials,
such as boxes, bags for storage of free-running granulated or powder products,
including
tea, coffee, cereal, etc. Such container packages can contain a device for
unloading of
package contents. Those were described in patents US1847028A, U52064029A,
U52593778A, US2946496A, US3426955A and others.
Accordingly, patent US 2,069,281 published on 02.02.1937, cl. B65D 33/36,
discloses a device for unloading package contents, which is installed on the
package,
more specifically, above the opening located on the top flap of the package.
On the
middle part of the top flap, weakened lines are made to form the device for
unloading
package contents, and the said device contains a tray with a pulling element
and flanges
with edge elements providing fixation of the tray on the surface of the
package top flap
when the tray is open.
However, there are disadvantages to this structure of device for unloading of
package contents, for instance, in the open position, the edge elements of the
tray flanges
only allow putting the tray into a position where the opening angle is less
than 900. This
position of the tray considerably limits the user's visibility of the area for
unloading of
the package contents into the tray. In conditions of limited visibility, the
user is forced to
resort to additional manipulations with the package in order to force the
contents out.
When folding the tray back into the package, the former can fall inside the
package as
the tray is retained only by the thin edge part of the package top flap and
the thin edge
part of the device for unloading, which provide an unreliable means of
retaining.
Moreover, the device for unloading is located on the middle part of the
package top flap,
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which leads to appearance of "blind spots" on both sides of the device,
considerably
obstructing the unloading of contents from those spots.
The prior art also discloses a device for unloading package contents described
in
patent US 2,064,029 published on 15.12.1936, cl. B65D 33/36 (being the closest
analogue), containing a tray with flanges and a pulling element. The device
for
unloading package contents is made on the narrow side wall of the package, as
the
continuation thereof, and includes a tray for unloading with side flanges
providing
retaining of the tray in open position, and a pulling element providing a
protruding part
of the unloading tray.
The said device, however, also presents structural disadvantages, such as the
tray
width being equal to the package side wall width. Due to this fact, there is a
possibility
of unloading into the tray of much more of the package contents than the user
needs.
Consequently, the process of unloading can become uncontrollable. Moreover,
the
device for unloading package contents is retained in a position where the
opening angle
cannot exceed 900. This forces the user to make additional efforts in order to
force the
package contents from the tray into a container, that is, make additional
movements
requiring perfect coordination. When folding the tray back into the package,
the coarse
edge of the tray shall frictionally cling to the contiguous coarse edge of the
prominent
part of the package, retaining the device in a closed position without the use
of additional
means of retaining. However, this way of retaining the device in a closed
position is not
completely reliable: if the package is turned sideways (or over), the package
contents can
spill as affected by their own weight.
Concept of the claimed solution
The technical problem solved by the claimed device is related with correction
of
disadvantages known from the prior art.
The technical result that can be obtained from implementation of the claimed
technical solution consists in provision of a reliable, iterative retaining of
the unloading
device, both in folded (closed) position, when the opening for unloading is
covered,
and in open position, at any opening angle of the device selected by the user,
and
consequently, in increased controllability of the process of package contents
unloading.
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This technical result is achieved by creation of a device for unloading of
package
contents arranged above a package outlet hole, including a tray with flanges,
an outlet
valve and a supporting element, at that, when folded, the tray is located
under the outlet
valve and is retained on the supporting element, wherein the outlet valve is
equipped
with flaps designed with the possibility to retain the tray flanges and form
an opening
when the tray is put into an open position.
At that, the tray is designed with the possibility of opening at an angle
exceeding
900, and the edges of the tray flanges are free from any attachments on three
sides
thereof. The tray has a pulling element and slots made on the supporting
element. When
folded, the tray is retained by the tray flanges located in slots made on the
supporting
element. Moreover, the flaps of the outlet valve retain the tray in a closed
position on the
supporting element.
In a particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the elements thereof
such
as the tray with flanges, the outlet valve, and the supporting element, can be
designed as
parts of the package and formed from a single blank.
In another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray with
flanges, the outlet valve, and the supporting element are designed as separate
elements
with the possibility of installing those on the package, above the outlet hole
made on the
package.
In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray
with
flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can represent a single
structure, with the
possibility of installing it on the package, above the outlet hole made on the
package.
In yet another particular embodiment of the device for unloading, the tray
with
flanges, outlet valve, and supporting element can be designed as a combination
of
elements partly installed on the package and partly manufactured separately,
with the
possibility of attaching those to the package, above the outlet hole made on
the package.
The advantage of the claimed solution for the device for unloading of the
package contents is the possibility to deflect the device tray at an angle
exceeding 900 as
well as retention of possibility to deflect the device tray at an angle less
than 900. This is
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achieved by the fact that the tray flanges are not attached to the package on
which the
device for unloading is located, but are only attached to the tray by their
only edge, along
the long lateral sides of the tray, so that the user can deflect the tray at a
necessary angle.
This position of the tray allows the user to control the area of visibility of
the package
outlet hole in order to unload the package contents freely and without any
additional
manipulations with the package, due to the possibility to install the tray at
an angle
exceeding angle of friction of the unloaded package contents on the tray
surface.
At that, the tray position chosen by the user is reliably retained as the tray
flanges
are supported from outside by the outlet valve flaps. In addition, such angle
of unloading
of the package contents ensures that the device area is fully visible to the
user,
consequently, the user can fully control the process of contents unloading
through the
package outlet hole.
After unloading of the package contents, the package outlet hole can be
reliably
closed as the tray can be freely returned into its initial position through
the outlet valve,
the package outlet hole can be covered with the tray, and the tray flanges can
be retained
in slots made on the supporting element. The tray can also be additionally
covered from
above by the outlet valve flaps, as the junction line for the outlet valve
flaps can be
made as a curve, so that the protruding elements of one flap would be placed
between the
protruding elements of the opposite flap, forming a junction similar to a flat
zip
fastener and being held together by the friction of the edging surfaces of
the flap's
protruding elements, which are placed into each other, providing additional
countermeasure against spontaneous opening of the package outlet hole.
Thus, the claimed device for unloading of package contents is different from
other devices for unloading of package contents known from the prior art.
Brief description of drawings
Fig. 1 shows the device for unloading of the package contents located on the
package;
Fig. 2 illustrates the outlet valve in a folded position;
Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of package
contents
made from a single unfolding;
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Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of the package
contents from separate elements;
Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device for unloading of the package
contents when the package is not represented by a box;
where the following numbers designate the following structural elements of the
claimed device:
1. Package.
2. Tray.
3. Tray flange.
4. Pulling element.
S. Outlet valve.
6. Longitudinal flap.
7. Edge flap.
8. Tag.
9. Supporting element.
10. Supporting element slot.
11. Outlet valve opening.
12. Package outlet hole.
13. Tag cutout.
14. Package side wall.
15. Package top flap.
16. Package bottom flap.
17. Device for unloading.
18. Weakened line of the pulling element.
19. Weakened line of the longitudinal flaps.
20. Weakened line of the edge flap.
21. Supporting element hole.
Description of the invention
This invention relates to the device used for unloading of contents of the
package
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on which it is located, such as powdered or granulated products, for example,
tea, coffee,
grain, cereal. The package itself can take different forms and be made from a
flexible
material, like cardboard.
The invention is further disclosed in more details, with references to the
accompanying drawings that provide a schematic representation of the device
structural elements and application embodiments.
More specifically, fig. 1 provides a schematic representation of the device
for
unloading of the package contents.
The device for unloading of the package 1 contents is located above the outlet
hole 12 of the package 1 and includes the unloading tray 2 on both lateral
sides of which
there are flanges 3 limiting the unloading of package 1 contents outside of
the tray 2. The
shape of flanges 3 can differ (they can be rectangular, rounded, or figurate)
in order to
provide fulfilment of their function. The flanges 3 are attached with one edge
to the tray
2, all other edges of the flange 3 being unattached. On yet another side of
the tray 2, a
weakened line 18 is made by creasing (for instance) (not shown on fig. 1), in
order to
connect the tray 2 with the pulling element 4. The pulling element 4 is a lip
on the edge
of the tray 2, and the weakened line 18 provides the possibility to bend the
pulling
element 4 in the plane of the tray 2. At that, the weakened line 18 can be
made as a
curve, thus increasing the stiffness of the pulling element 4 after it was
bent.
Another important element of the device for unloading of package 1 contents is
the outlet valve 5 (see fig. 2) formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and an edge
flap 7 with a tag
8.
Fig. 2 illustrates the outlet valve 5 in a closed position. The outlet valve 5
is
located above the tray 2 (not shown on fig. 2) and is used for unloading of
the package 1
contents. In the medium part of the outlet valve 5 a weakened line 19 is made
by
creasing. The weakened line 19 can be made straight or in zigzag, forming
zigzag
elements of the flaps that are placed into each other. When tearing the line
19,
longitudinal flaps 6 are formed on the outlet valve 5, and their separation
from each other
allows forming an opening 11 of the outlet valve 5. The outlet valve 5 also
includes an
edge flap 7 attached to the edge sides of the longitudinal flaps 6, that has a
tag 8 with a
cutout 13 of the tag 8. By turning the tag 8 through the cutout 13, the edge
flap 7 is
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separated from the outlet valve 5 and longitudinal flaps 6 by bending along
the weakened
line 20, providing access to the pulling element 4 of the tray 2. This creates
a possibility
to pull on the pulling element 4 and divide the longitudinal flaps 6 along the
weakened
line 19 of the outlet valve 5, forming an opening 11 through which the tray 2
can be put
into an open position in order to unload the package 1 contents (see fig. 1).
When open,
the tray 2 is retained by the forces of friction between flanges 3 of the tray
2 and
longitudinal flaps 6 of the outlet valve 5 providing a resilient support for
the flanges 3 of
the tray 2. As mentioned earlier, an advantage of this structure is the fact
that the tray 2
of the device for unloading of package 1 contents is reliably retained in an
open position
because flanges 3 of the tray 2 are supported from both sides by the
longitudinal flaps 6
of the outlet valve 5, and the tray 2 can remain open and deflected from the
package 1 at
an angle exceeding 90 (> 90 ) while flanges 3 of the tray 2 are not attached
to the
package 1, as opposed to the structures known from the prior art. Outside
surfaces of
flanges 3 of the tray 2 and the surfaces of contiguous longitudinal flaps 6 of
the outlet
valve 5 can be textured, so that the prominences of the surface of flanges 3
correspond
with the cavities on the surface of longitudinal flaps 6 in order to provide
reliable contact
of those surfaces.
For each specific product contained in the package 1, well-visible lines
showing
the best angle of deflection proposed for the tray 2 and allowing unloading of
the optimal
quantity of the package contents, can be additionally drawn on the surface of
longitudinal flaps. For the same purpose, special prominences and cavities can
be made
on contiguous surfaces of flanges 3 of the tray 2 and longitudinal flaps 6 of
the outlet
valve 5, providing the user with a tactile indication that the optimal angle
of turning of
the tray 2 has been reached for the specific product contained in the package
1.
Fig. 1 illustrates another structural element of the claimed device, more
specifically, the supporting element 9. The supporting element 9 can be both a
part of the
package 1 or a separate element that can be attached to the package 1 in a
known way.
The supporting element 9 is designed so that the edge part of the tray 2 is
supported by
the surface of the supporting element 9, preventing falling of the tray 2
inside the
package 1 when the device is folded after being used. The supporting element 9
also
carries slots 10 that are made on its free edge (see fig. 3-4); these slots
can be straight or
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rounded. The slots 10 are used to reliably retain flanges 3 of the tray 2 of
the device for
unloading of the package 1 contents by wedging open flanges 3 on slots 10 when
folding
the tray into the package after the former has been used; they retain the said
flanges 3
from spontaneous withdrawal thereof from the slots 10 under the weight of the
contents
pressing from inside the package on the tray 2 during different manipulations
with the
closed package or in case the closed package is turned over.
Fig. 1 also illustrates the outlet hole 12 made on the package 1, through
which
pass the contents of the package 1 while being unloaded. The package outlet
hole 12
coincides with the hole 21 of the supporting element and the opening 11 of the
outlet
valve. The hole 21 of the supporting element 9 serves for the package 1
contents to pass
through it while being unloaded. At that, the length of the hole 21 of the
supporting
element 9 must be smaller than the length of the tray 2, and the width of the
hole 21 of
the supporting element 9 must be equal to the width of the tray 2 measured
along the
outside dimensions of its flanges 3. The length of the hole 21 of the
supporting element 9
determines the maximum consumption that can be reached when unloading the
contents
from the package 1. At that, the decrease of the length of the hole 21
provides a pro-rata
decrease of the maximum consumption reached when unloading the contents from
the
package 1; and on the contrary, the increase of the hole 21 length increases
the said
maximum consumption.
The claimed device for unloading of package 1 contents can be used as follows.
The device for unloading of package 1 contents consisting of a tray 2 with
flanges 3 and a pulling element 4, an outlet valve 5 with longitudinal flaps 6
and edge
flap 7, and a supporting element 9, is installed above the outlet hole 12
located on the
package 1. In order to unload a portion of contents from the package 1, the
user opens
the edge flap 7 along the weakened line 20, wherein the edge flap 7 has a
preliminarily
made tag slot 13 at the tag 8. The user picks up the tag 8 by the tag slot 13
and uses
power to bend the edge flap 7, providing access to the pulling element 4 of
the tray 2.
After bending the pulling element 4 of the tray 2 and picking up on it, the
user uses
power to change the tray 2 position from folded into a position for unloading.
When
pulling out and turning the tray 2 by the pulling element 4, the linkers at
the weakened
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line 19 are torn and the longitudinal flaps 6 bend, forming an opening 11 of
the outlet
valve 5. The width of the opening 11 of the outlet valve 5 corresponds to the
width of the
tray 2. As the flanges 3 of the tray 2 are separated from the sides of the
package 1, the
user can, while unloading the package 1 contents, deflect the tray 2 at an
angle exceeding
900 and reliably hold it in the same position due to forces of friction
between the flanges
3 of the tray 2 and longitudinal flats 6 of the outlet valve 5 that provide a
resilient
support to flanges 3 of the tray 2 and do not require additional means of
retaining. This
all allows to reliably put the tray 2 into an open position and hold it in the
same position
for the time necessary for unloading. The position of the tray 2 deflected at
an angle
exceeding 900 provides the user with maximum visibility of the area of hole 21
of the
supporting element 9 located under the tray 2 and allows organizing a fully-
controlled
unloading of a measured portion of the package 1 contents into a container,
without any
additional manipulations with the package, by deflecting the package 1 and
unloading its
contents into a container through the tray 2. Flanges 3 of the tray 2 provide
reliable
protection from spilling of unloaded measured portion of the package 1
contents.
After unloading a necessary portion of the package 1 contents, the tray 2 can
be
returned into its initial (folded) position inside the package 1. To do that,
the user holds
on to the pulling element 4 and lowers the tray 2 through the opening 11 of
the outlet
valve 5 until the tray 2 rests against the surface of the supporting element
9. The pulling
element 4 of the tray 2 allows the user to not touch the surface of the tray 2
itself,
providing observance of the sanitary standards. At that, the user fixes
flanges 3 of the
tray 2 in slots 10 of the supporting element 9. The slots 10 are made so that
when the tray
2 is folded inside the package 1, the flanges 3 are inserted into the slots 10
along the
whole length of the flanges 3, wedge open and reliably hold the tray 2 in a
folded
position; at the same time, the tray 2 also covers the hole 21 of the
supporting element 9
and the hole 12 of the package 1, thus preventing spontaneous unloading of the
package
1 contents through the opening 11 of the outlet valve 5 and through the hole
21 of the
supporting element 9 during different spatial manipulations of the package 1.
To
facilitate insertion of flanges 3 of the tray 2 into slots 10 of the
supporting element 9, the
lead ¨in parts of slots 10 can carry chamfers or curves.
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Thus, the claimed invention described by the total of listed features allows
to
reliably and iteratively open the outlet hole for unloading of the package
contents and to
close it after unloading a part of the contents, while also increasing
controllability and
facilitating the process of unloading.
The following examples of device implementation provide non-limiting
illustrations of implementation of the claimed invention.
Example 1.
Device for unloading of package contents can be made on the container package
manufactured from cardboard, in the form of a box with an outlet hole,
representing a
single blank when unfolded (fig. 3). This package 1 has side walls 14, top
flaps 15 and
bottom flaps 16. Elements of the device 17 for unloading of package 1 contents
are made
together with the blank, out of its essential parts.
Thus, the tray 2 with flanges 3 and a pulling element 4 are made on one of the
top flaps 15 of the package 1.
Longitudinal flaps 6 and edge flap 7 with the tag 8 of the outlet valve 5 are
also
made on the adjacent top flap 15 of the package 1, so that the longitudinal
flaps 6, when
folded, are connected by the weakened line 19 that can be made as a straight
or curved
line in order to provide reliable retention of the longitudinal flaps 6 with
each other,
while folded, and to increase the effect of their adherence to each other. The
separation
of flaps 6 and 7 allows forming an opening 11 of the outlet valve 5.
The supporting element 9 is made from yet another top flap 15 of the package 1
carrying the hole 21 for unloading of package 1 contents and slots 10 for
retaining
flanges 3 of the tray 2 when the tray 2 is folded.
After connecting lateral sides 14, top flaps 15 and bottom flaps 16 of the
blank,
the user obtains a package in the form of a box (see fig. 1-2), where the
elements, such as
the tray with flanges, the outlet valve and the supporting element of the
device 17 for
unloading of package contents are located above each other and above the
outlet hole 12
of the package 1. The unloading of contents of this box can be done by using
the device
17 to unload the package contents in a way described earlier.
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Example 2.
Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the device for unloading of package
contents, where the tray 2 with flanges 3 and the pulling element 4, the
outlet valve 5
formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and the edge flap 7 with tag 8, the supporting
element 9
with slots 10 and the hole 21 represent separate structural elements of the
said device for
unloading that are consequently installed above each other and above the
outlet hole 12
made on the package 1. Connection of the said elements of the device for
unloading of
package contents is done in a known way, and the unloading of package contents
can be
done by using the said device for unloading in a way described earlier.
Example 3.
Fig. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the device for unloading of
package
contents, where the tray 2 with flanges 3 and the pulling element 4, the
outlet valve 5
formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and the edge flap 7 with tag 8, the supporting
element 9
with slots 10 and the hole 21 represent a preliminarily assembled device
installed above
the outlet hole 12 made on the package 1. The unloading of the package
contents can be
done by using the said device for unloading in a way described earlier.
Example 4.
Yet another embodiment of the said device for unloading of package contents
(not shown on figures) suggests that the tray 2 with flanges 3 and the pulling
element 4,
the outlet valve 5 formed by longitudinal flaps 6 and the edge flap 7 with tag
8, the
supporting element 9 with slots 10 and the hole 21 can be designed as a
combination of
elements partly installed on the package 1 and partly separated from it, with
the
possibility to connect them to the package 1 above the outlet hole 12 made on
the
package 1. The unloading of the package contents can be done by using the said
device
for unloading in a way described earlier.
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