Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLOWASLE
MATERIALS FROM A POUCH
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
dispensing flowable materials from a pouch. The pouches
are pillow-shaped with "ears".
It is well known to package flowable materials,
for example, milk, on so-called vertical form and fill
machines. Using such a machine, a flat web of synthetic
thermoplastic film is unwound from a roll and formed into
l0 a continuous tube in a tube foraning section, by sealing
the longitudinal edges of the film together to form a
so-called lap seal or a so-called fin seal. The tube thus
formed is pulled vertically downwards to a filling
station. The tube is then collapsed across a transverse
cross-section of the tube, the position of the
cross-section being at a sealing device below the filling
station. A transverse heat seal is made, by the sealing
device, at the collapsed portion of the tube, Thus making
an airtight seal across the tube. The sealing device
generally comprises a pair of jaws. After making the
transverse seal, but before the jaws of the sealing device
are opened, a quantity of material to be packaged, e.g.
liquid, is caused to enter the tube, at the filling
station, and fill the tube upwardly from the
' 25 aforementioned transverse seal. The tube is caused to
move downwardly a predetermined distance. Such movement
may be under the influence of the weight of the material
in the tube, or may be caused by pulling or mechanically
driving the tube. The jaws of the sealing device are
3O closed again, thus collapsing the tube at a second
transverse section. The second transverse section may be
above, usually just above, the air/material interface in
the tube, or the second transverse section may be below
the air/material interface. The sealing device seals and
35 severs the tube transversely at the second transverse
section. The material-filled portion of the tube is now
in the form of a pillow shaped pouch. Thus the sealing
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device has sealed the top of the filled pouch, sealed the
bottom of the next-to-be formed pouch, all in one
operation. One such vertical form and fill machine of the
type described above is sold under the trade mark PREPAC.
With some other machines, the sealing device does not
sever the tube at the second transverse section, but does
sever the tube subsequently. With some machines the
filling of the tube is done continuously rather than
intermittently. The portions of the pouch at the ends of
the transverse seals are often referxed to as "ears".
For many years, milk has been packaged in pouches
made on vertical form and fill machines. Such pouches
have been sold to household. consumers and, in use, such
milk-filled pouches are stood within an open-mouthed
pitcher. More recently, such pouches have been used to
package other flowable comestibles, mayonnaise, salad
dressings, preserves and the like. Pouches containing
such comestibles are usually sold to "institutional"
buyers, e.g. restaurants. Heretofore the flowable
materials have been removed from such pouches by cutting
an ear of the pouch and pouring or squeezing the flowable
material out of the pouch. Alternatively the pouch has
been fitted with a pouring spout such as that disclosed in
Canadian Patent 1 192 164 to L. Obidniak. The present
invention provides an alternate apparatus for removing
flowable material from a pouch.
Accordingly the present invention provides an
apparatus for removing flowable material from a pouch, said
pouch having~an ear at each of the ends of-a transverse
seal located at one end of the pouch, said apparatus
comprising i) a tubular container having sides and an open
top having a rim, said container being adapted to contain
said pouch, ii) a lid attachable to-the rim such that the
lid is adapted to trap'the.ears of the pouch between the
lid and the rim and to keep said -end of the pouch taut
between said ears when said lid is attached to the rim,
said lid also being adapted to allow a spout to pierce
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said pouch at said taut portion .
In one embodiment the tubular container has a
bottom comprising a piston disk adapted to move towards
the top of the container.
In a further embodiment the lid is hingedly
attached to the container.
In yet another embodiment the lid is separate
from the container and attachable to the rim with a
snapfit closure.
In another embodiment the lid is separate from
the container and attachable to the rim with a quick
locking closure.
Tn a further embodiment the container has a
bottom rim, and a bottom which is detachable from said
bottom rim, said pouch having ears at both ends of the
pouch, and said bottom is adapted to trap at least one ear
of the pouch between the bottom and the bottom rim, said .
container, when assembled with pouch, bottom, lid and
spout, being substantially gas-tight, and said container
having means to allow gay to enter said container.
In yet another embodiment the tubular container
has a cross-section which is essentially square, with
rounded corners.
The invention also provides a kit for making an
apparatus for removing flowable material from a pouch,
said pouch having an ear at each of the ends of a
transverse seal located at one end of the pouch, said kit
comprising i) a cylindrical tube having a bottom rim and
a fop rim, and ii) a lid attachable to the top rim such
that the lid is adapted to trap the ears of~the pouch
between the lid and the top rim and to keep said end of
the pouch taut between said ears when said lid is attached
to the top rim. -.Optionally..the kit has a bottom which is
adapted to attach to a bottom rim of the tube.
In another, embodiment the kit additionally
contains a spout adapted to pierce the taut portion of the
pouch. -
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- In a further embodiment the bottom is integrally
attached to the bottom rim of the container.
In another embodiment the bottom has associated
therewith a piston disk and piston rod adapted to push
said pouch towards the lid when the kit is assembled.
In yet another embodiment the lid is adapted to
permit attachment of the spout thereto.
In a further embodiment the spout has a valve
associated therewith.
In another embodiment the spout is adapted to
have fitted thereto a nozzle.
In yet another embodiment the cylindrical tube
has a cross-section which is essentially square, with
rounded corners.
The invention may be more readily understood by
reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a container of the present
invention in cross-section.
Figure 2 shows a three quarter view, partly cut
away, of another container of the present invention, said
container having a hinged lid and a detachable spout.
Figures 3a, 3b, 3c~and 3d show a manner of using
the container of Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a spout, in cross-section, which
may be used in conjunction with the container of Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows the spout of Figure 4 in a
different mode of operation.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show details of the piercing
end of the spout shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 9 shows another spout, in cross-section,
which may be used in conjunction with the container of
Figure 2.
Figures 10 and show other containers of the
present invention.
Figure Z shows a system suitable for dispensing '
baby formula from a pouch. The system comprises a
container 11 having a bottom 12 joined integrally to
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cylindrical tube 13. Cylindrical tube 13 has a top rim 14
with an outwardly extending lip 15. Detachably attached
to the rim is lid 16 which has a skirt 17 adapted to
snap-fit over lip 15. In lid 16, located off-centre, is
attached or joined a conduit 18 to which is attachable, by
means not shown, a spout 19. Spout 19 has, at the end
facing inside the container, a piercing end 20 which is
adapted to pierce the film (not shown) from which the
pouch (not shown) is made. The other end of the spout has
a nipple 21 attached thereto. Bottom 12 is not essential.
Cylindrical tube 13 should be long enough to allow the
pouch, which hangs by ears which are trapped between rim
14 and lid 16, to be held taught between the ears so that
the film of the pouch is relatively easily punctured by
piercing end 19.
Figures 2 and 3a show a system suitable for
dispensing sour cream, mayonnaise and the like from a
pouch. The system comprises container 31 having a bottom
32 joined integrally to tubular container 33. Tube 33 has
a top rim 34. Lid 35 is attached to tube 33 by hinge post
36. Lid 35 also has side skirts 37. Tube 33 also has a
transverse lip 38 on the side of the cylindrical tube
furthest away from hinge posts 36. Lid 35 has a tab 39
with a latching piece 40 attached th~::~eto. Latching piece
40 is adapted to latch under transverse lip 38 when lid 35
is closed as shown in Figure 3c. A threaded conduit 41 is
joined to lid 35. Into conduit 41 may be inserted spout
42 which has a threaded end 43 and a nozzle 44. Threaded
end 43 is for screwing into the threaded portion of
conduit 41. Bottom 32 has a handle 45 joined thereto. In
the-base of the handle and through bottom 32 passes
ratcheted spindle 46. Spindle 46 is attached, inside
cylindrical tube 33, to piston disk 47. At the end of
spindle 46, distal to disk 47, is attached T-handle 48.
.Trigger .49 is attached to a pawl (not shown) so that
spindle 46 may be moved, and thus piston disk 47 be
advanced towards lid 35.
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The operation of the container of Figure 2 for
dispensing material is described more fully by reference
to Figures 3a to 3d. Container 31 is placed upright in
rack 50 having a cut-out 51 adapted to aid in holding
container 31 upright. Container 31 is held upright by
means of bottom 32 being flush with the upper surface of
rack 50, i.e. stands on rack 50 under the influence of
gravity. Lid 35 is opened as shown in Figure 3a. Pouch
52 of flowable material, e.g. sour cream, has two
to transverse end seals, one of which is shown as 53. The
pouch is made from a flat web of thermoplastic polymeric
material, e.g. polyethylene, and formed longitudinally
into a tube. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3a the
tube is sealed with a longitudinal seal 54 and then
transversely sealed with seals 53. The transverse seal
forms "ears" 55 and 56. As shown in Figure 3a, pouch 52
is dropped into container 31. The ears of the pouch 55
and 56 are stretched over the top rim 34 of cylindrical
tube 33 as shown in Figure 3b. Lid 35 is swung over,
following arrow A in Figure 3b until latching piece 4o of
tab 39 engages with transverse lip 38. Lid 35 then firmly
grips ears 55 and 56 and traps them between rim 34, skirts
37 and lid 35 as shown in Figure 3c. Thus the top 57 of
pouch 52 is, held taut between ears 55 and 56. The pouch
itself is filled so that the contents are not under
pressure. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3c, spout 42
is already attached to conduit 41. Conduit is off-centre
in the Iid:so that the nozzle 44 does not sit over the
longitudinal seal 54 or the transverse seal 53. By
'30 twisting nozzle 44 the pointed end of the threaded end or
the saw-toothed end of spout is caused to penetrate the
taut portion of the top 57 of pouch 52. Because the pouch
is not under pressure, the contents of the pouch remain
within the pouch without leakage. .If the pouch was under
pressure there would be a danger of the contents squirting
out into the interior of container 33. .By a mechanism and
process described hereinafter the threaded end or
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saw-toothed end . of the spout is sealed to the pouch so
that material does not spill into the container. The
container, with pouch therein is then ready for use. The
threaded-end type spout is preferred far films which are
less stretchy, e.g. polyethylene films laminated to
ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films. As shown in
Figure 3d, the dispenser may be grasped by hand using
handle 45. In order to force material from the pouch,
trigger 49 is manually squeezed, thus causing the ratchet
mechanism to move piston disk 47 towards lid 35 and
squeeze material from the pouch through spout 42 and
nozzle 44 as a result of the hydraulic pressure within the
pouch.
A spout which might be used in the dispenser
shown in Figures 3 is shown more clearly, in
cross-section, in Figures 4 and 5. Lid 35 has a threaded
conduit 41 therein. Spout 42 comprises ramped sleeve 58
with ramped lever 59, nozzle 60, diffuser 62 and diffuser
retaining cap 61. Nozzle 60 has a corkscrew tip 69
attached distal to diffuser retaining cap 61. Diffuser
retaining cap 61 may be blind or may have a variety of
diffusers 62 associated therewith. The type of diffuser
will depend on the type of material being dispensed. If,
for example, the material is mayonnaise, the diffuser may
be in the shape of a disc with a multiplicity of holes
from 3 to 6 mm in diameter therein, for larger discharge ,
onto, for example, hamburger buns. Cross-shaped slits may
be used in diffuser 62 for sour cream or the like.
Diffuser 62 is conveniently made from discs of neoprene or
polyester sheet. Ramped lever 59 has a handle 63 attached
thereto for assisting in rotation'of ramped lever 59.
Ramped sleeve 58 and ramped lever 59 each have a detent 64
and 65 respectively for holding ramped sleeve and lever in
place in he position shown in Figure 5. Ramped sleeve 58
35.is threadedly engaged in threaded conduit 41.
Figures 6 to 8.show details of the spout of
Figures 4 and 5. In these Figures the nozzle 60 has at
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OV its end a corkscrew tip 69 which has a thread 70 ending in
a piercing tip 71. Ramped sleeve 58 forms a bore 66 for
the insertion and retention of nozzle 60. The end of bore
66, distal to diffuser 62, has a widened bore 67 and an
even wider bore 68. The thread 70 has an outside diameter
of slightly less than the diameter of bore 68, and is
.
essentially "zero clearance" with respect to bore 67. For
example widened bore 67 may be about 12.5 ~cm greater in
diameter than the outer diameter of the threads. For use
with a pouch having a film thickness of about 76 ~.m, bore
68 should be about 76 to 100 ~cm wider in diameter than the
outer diameter of threads 70. Thread 70 has a constricted
end 72. In operation, nozzle 60 is first retracted so
that threads 70 arewat least within bore 68. Corkscrew
tip 69 should be withdrawn into bore 67 so that the
piercing tip 71 do not accidentally snag the pouch and
pierce it. Then lid 35 is closed in such a way as to trap
the pouch ears 55 and 56 against top rim 34 and keep
portion 57 of the pouch taut. Nozzle 60 of spout 42 is
then twisted and pushed in such a manner that piercing tip
71 pierces film 76 in taut portion 57. Corkscrew tip 69
thus punctures film 76. Corkscrew tip 69 is gradually
worked, by twisting, into pouch 52 until the film 76 is
snugly adjacent tapered portion 77 of nozzle 60, as shown
in Figure 6. Handle 63 of ramped lever 59 is then twisted
until detents 64 and 65 engage. The thrust on sliding
surfaces,78 and 79 (shown in Figure 4) cause nozzle 6o and
therefore corkscrew tip 69 to be drawn away from pouch 42.
As shown in Figures 7 and 8 corkscrew tip 69 is pulled
towards bore 68 and film 76 is trapped between threads 70
and 75, and bore 68. The now film-covered threaded
portion, 70 and 75, is pulled into bore 68 until the
threads are prevented fxom moving further by the shoulder '
between bore 68 and narrower bore 67. Material is then
'35 prevented from leaking from pouch 42 by the mechanical
seal formed by nipping film 76 between threads 70, 75 and
bore 68, and by contraction of the film edge onto tapered
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portion 77. Constricted thread 72, which may be extended
along the entire length of the threaded portion, assists
in preventing material in being extruded from the pouch
through the seal area via the trough in the thread,
although is not entirely satisfactory in the case of very
runny liquids like water, if high pressure is applied by
piston disc 47. In such a case, however, a different
arrangement would be selected. Material inside pouch 42
may then be removed by extruding the material through the
bore of nozzle 60. In the case of the saw-toothed end
shown in Figure 9, the relative lengths of bore 67 and
bore 68 are determined by the length of the saw-tooth
portion. The numerals in Figure 9 relate to similar
features in Figures 6 to 8 with the exception that the
saw-toothed end is identified with numeral 73. Before the
saw teeth 74 of saw-tooth portion 73 pierces the pouch,
the saw-toothed portion 73 should be withdrawn into bore
67 so that the teeth 74 do not accidentally snag the pouch
and pierce it when not required.
Another embodiment of the present invention is
shown in Figure 10. This container is more suitable for
a container which is less portable than the containers
shown in the other Figures and is useful for dispensing
mustard, ketchup and like materials. The container is
shown with its bottom uppermost and comprises a squeezable
cylindrical tube 81 with a bottom 82 and a lid 83. Bottom
82 has therein a one-way air valve 84. Bottom 82 has a
skirt 85 which is adapted to "snap°' onto rim lip 86 of
cylindrical tube 81 and form a hermetic seal. Similarly
lid 83 has a skirt 87 which is adapted to "snap" onto rim
:lip 88 of cylindrical tube 81. Lid 83 also has a conduit
- 89 leading to spout 90. The whole of container 80 is
-- mounted on legs 91. Conduit 89 has associated therewith
spout piercing means similar to that shown and described
fox the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 8. Pouch 92 is
held by at least one of its ears at the end of the pouch
adjacent bottom 82 and by both ears at the end of the
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pouch adjacent lid 83. Spout 90 may have a valve (not
shown) associated therewith, or aweoprene restrictor with
a slit therein as is known in the trade. In operation,
tube 81 is arranged with its rim 86 upwards. Then the
material filled pouch 92 is inserted into cylindrical tube
81. Skirt 85 of bottom 82 is snapped onto rim 86,
trapping at least one ear of the pouch therebetween. The
partially assembled container is then arranged with rim 88
upwards and skirt 87 of lid 83 is snapped onto rim 88,
trapping both ears of that end of the pouch, in a manner
which ensures that the film between the ears is taut. The
pouch 92 is pierced by the piercing means so that nozzle
90 is sealed into the pouch, much in the manner described
,
in relation to Figures
~4 to 8. The container 80 is then
turned so that the spout 90 is at the bottom and product
94 is free to flow by gravity towards spout 90. Tube 81
may then be squeezed manually, thus applying pressure to
the pouch. Material inside the pouch, 94, is thus caused
to flow out of the pouch through spout 90. As tube 81 is
released, air enters tube 81 via valve 84. Outline 93
shows the pouch after some of the contents 94 of the pouch
have been emptied out.
Figure 11 shows a container which is suitable for
pourable liquids. As will be apparent it is very similar
in construction ,and operation, inasfar as the spout
mechanism is concerned, to the container of Figure 3.
Container 95 has an integral bottom (not shown) and a top
rim 96. The bottom is not essential far the purpose of
supporting the.pouch but is obviously desirable in order
to permit the container to stand on a table or the like
without support. Lid 97 is attached to container 95 by
hinge post 98.'Lid 97 also has side skirts 99. Container
95 also has a transverse lip 100.on the .side of the
cylindrical tube furthest away from hinge posts 98. Lid
97 has a tab 101. with a,~latching piece 102 attached
thereto. Latching piece 102 is adapted to latch under
transverse lip 100 when lid 97 is closed. A threaded
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conduit 103 is joined to lid 97. Into conduit 103 may be
inserted spout 104, which is in essential details similar
to the ones shown in Figures 4 to 8. Container 95 has a
handle 105 joined thereto. Spout 104 may have a blind cap
107 thereon.
In operation container 95 is placed upright. A
pouch 106 of pourable material, e.g. milk, juice, which
has two transverse end seals, one of which is shown as
108, a longitudinal seal 109 and ears 110 and 111, is
dropped,into container 95. The ears of the pouch 110 and
111 are stretched over the top rim 96 of container 95.
Lid 97 is swung over until latching piece 102 of tab 101
engages with transverse lip 100. Lid 97 then firmly grips
ears 110 and 111 and traps them between rim 96, skirts 99
and lid 97. Thus the top 112 of pouch 106 is held taut
between ears 110 and 111. Conduit 103 is off-centre in
the lid so that the nozzle 104 does not sit over the
longitudinal seal 109 or the transverse seal 108. By
twisting nozzle 104 the pointed end of the threaded end or
the saw-toothed end of spout (not shown) is caused to
penetrate the taut portion of the top 112 of pouch 106.
By a mechanism and process described hereinbefore the
threaded end or saw-toothed end of the spout is sealed to
the pouch so that the pourable material does not spill
into the container. The container, with pouch therein is
then ready for use. As will be readily apparent the
container may be grasped by hand using handle 105. After
removing blind cap 107 from the spout 104 the container 95
may be tipped up so that pourable liquid may be dispensed
through spout 104. After pouring sufficient liquid out of
pouch 106 the container 95 is placed on its base and the
cap reattached to keep the contents fresh.
The present invention is useful for dispensing
flowable materials. The term "flowable material" does not
include gases but encompasses materials which are flowable
under gravity or may be pumped or extruded. Such
materials include emulsions, e.g. ice cream mix; soft
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margarine; food dressings; pastes; preserves, e.g.
doughnut fillings; jellies; detergents; and liquids, e.g.
milk; oils. The dispenser of Figure 1 is suitable, For
example, fox dispensing baby formula. The dispenser of
Figures 2 and 3 is suitable, for portion control of
products such as mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish,
sour cream, e.g. 28 ml portions of sour cream dispensed
from a 680 ml pouch onto a taco. Using such a dispenser
there is only about 1.25% wastage inside the pouch and
another 1.25% wastage left in the nozzle neck. The
dispenser of Figure 10 is suitable, for example, for
dispensing ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, sour
cream, maple syrup, caramel, ice cream toppings. The
dispenser of Figure 11 is suitable for dispensing pourable
liquids, e.g. juice, milk, liquid detergent.
