CONTAINER WITH A PRODUCT PACKAGED IN SAME

Abstract

A container with a product packaged therein, including: a rigid cylindrical container having a bottom, a side wall and a lid; a flexible liner; a pasty product which is enclosed by the liner and arranged in the container; wherein the container moreover includes an insert which is arranged on the bottom and below the product enclosed in the liner, and which has a substantially round circular outline smaller than the bottom, and which is arranged so as to be substantially centric on the bottom in such a way that there is a spacing between the insert and the side wall.

Description

The present invention relates to a container with a product packaged therein. In particular, the invention relates to a rigid cylindrical container with a pasty product packaged therein.

For various applications, products are packaged in drum-shaped containers. In particular, pasty products, such as adhesives and sealants, are typically packaged in a film layer in sheet metal drums. The products are often retrieved from these drums by pumping from above, with a funnel-shaped plate pressurizing the contents so that the product flows up to the pump and can be conveyed onward from there.

In this process, however, a residual quantity of the product always remains in the container and can no longer be conveyed by the pump. Depending on the system, this residual quantity can be in the range of 5 to 10 liters (in the case of a 200 liter drum).

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solution which enables a better utilization of the product packaged in the container when used. In particular, a residual quantity which can no longer be conveyed should be kept as low as possible, and the economics and the environmental compatibility of such packaged products should be improved.

This object is achieved by providing a container with a product packaged therein, comprising: a rigid cylindrical container having a bottom, a side wall and a lid; a flexible liner; a pasty product which is enclosed by the liner and arranged in the container; wherein the container moreover comprises an insert which is arranged on the bottom and below the product enclosed in the liner, and which has a substantially round circular outline smaller than the bottom, and which is arranged so as to be substantially centric on the bottom in such a way that there is a spacing between the insert and the side wall.

In tests, it has been recognized that a substantial component of the limited utilization during pumping is due to the fact that the plate of the pump is stopped in its downward movement by the folded liner. In particular, in the case of liners made from plastic films, there is a risk that the liner compacted along the side wall of the container forms an insurmountable resistance for the pump when it advances toward the bottom of the container.

According to the invention, this finding is now used in such a way that a space into which the compressed liner can be pressed is provided by the insert. The insert raises the effective bottom of the container in a central region (but not in the peripheral/edge region), allowing the pump to squeeze out more material until it is stopped by the compacted liner.

It has furthermore been demonstrated that this effect can be optimized by adapting the shape and size of the insert. Such optimized inserts are in particular the subject matter of the dependent claims.

By producing this insert as easily and cost-effectively as possible, the economic and environmental aspects of the invention can be further improved. The use of such inserts is particularly advantageous for high-priced and/or difficult-to-recycle products.

A core concept of the present invention is to optimize the previously known process of emptying such containers without having to make changes to the emptying process or the equipment (e.g. pumps). Instead, according to the invention, a container is provided, which additionally comprises an insert in order to optimize the emptying process. In this way, no adjustments or changes need to be made by the customer, neither to the equipment nor to the process.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert is sized relative to the container in such a manner that the spacing is between 2 and 10 cm, preferably between 3 and 9 cm, particularly preferably between 3 and 8 cm.

In an exemplary embodiment, a height of the insert is between 1 and 6%, preferably between 1.5 and 4% of a height of the container.

In an exemplary embodiment, a height of the insert is between 1 and 6 cm, preferably between 1.5 and 4 cm.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert has a rectangular or trapezoidal or polygonal cross section.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert is substantially formed as a truncated cone, or as a truncated cone on a plinth, or as a cylinder having a rounded or beveled upper edge.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert has at least two spacers, which are sized and arranged in such a manner that they bridge the spacing between the insert and the side wall and as a result predefine a position of the insert on the bottom.

In an exemplary refinement, the insert has a least three or at least four spacers.

In an alternative embodiment, the insert has an encircling ring as a spacer which is sized and arranged in such a manner that it bridges the spacing between the insert and the side wall and as a result predefines a position of the insert on the bottom.

In an exemplary refinement, the encircling ring and the insert are designed as one-piece and/or from the same material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the spacer, or the spacers, has/have a lower height than the insert, in particular a height of less than half the height of the insert, and/or in particular, the height of the spacers is between 20 and 60% of the height of the insert.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert is formed from an expanded-foamed plastics material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the insert is designed as one-piece.

In an alternative embodiment, the insert is formed in multiple parts, wherein the individual parts are in particular of identical design.

In an exemplary embodiment, the product is a one-component adhesive or sealant, in particular a composition based on polyurethane, silane-terminated polymer, epoxy or silicone.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible liner is formed as a foil/film, in particular as an aluminum foil or as a polyethylene film.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container is formed from sheet metal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container has a volume of 50 to 500 l, preferably of 100 to 300 l.

Details and advantages of the invention will be described below hereunder by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to schematic drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1a shows a schematic illustration of a container with a product packaged therein, according to the prior art;

FIG. 1b shows a schematic illustration of a container with a product packaged therein and an insert;

FIG. 2a shows a schematic illustration of a container with a product packaged therein, when the latter is retrieved by a pump according to the prior art;

FIG. 2b shows a schematic illustration of a container with a product packaged therein and an insert, when the product is retrieved by a pump; and

FIGS. 3a to 5b show a schematic illustration of various inserts.

Illustrated in FIG. 1a is a container 1 with a product A packaged therein, according to the prior art. The container 1 has a cylindrical shape, and comprises a bottom 2, a side wall 3, and a lid 4. The product A is moreover enclosed by a liner 5.

Illustrated in FIG. 2b, in turn, is a container 1 with a product A packaged therein, however, this container 1 additionally comprises an insert 6. This insert 6 is arranged on the bottom 2 of the container 1 and below the product A enclosed by the liner 5. The insert 6 herein has a diameter 11 which is smaller than the bottom 2 of the container 1. Because the insert 6 is arranged to be substantially centric on the bottom 2, there is a spacing 9 from the side wall 3 around the insert 6.

The insert 6 moreover has a height 10.

In FIG. 2a, a container 1 with a product A packaged therein is shown when retrieved by a pump 7 according to the prior art. During retrieval, the liner 5 is cut on an upper side of the product A, and a follower plate 8 of a retrieval device (not illustrated in its entirety) now presses on the product A in such a way that the product A is squeezed-counter to gravity-toward the pump 7. The pump 7 then conveys the product A onward, for example in the direction of an application robot (not illustrated).

The progressive compression of the product A in the liner 5 causes folds in the liner 5, in each case next to the side wall 3. As from a specific point, these folds in the liner 5 prevent the product A from being further compressed, because further compression causes excessive resistance due to the folds. This stops the retrieval process before the product A can be completely conveyed (or emptied, consumed).

Illustrated in FIG. 2b, in turn, is a container 1 with a product A packaged therein, when retrieved by a pump 7. Here, however, the container 1 additionally comprises an insert 6 which is arranged on the bottom 2 of the container 1. Due to the centric arrangement of the insert 6 on the bottom 2, a fold in the liner 5 can at least in part escape into a region/area between the insert 2 and the side wall 3. As a result, more of the product A can be conveyed in total than would be the case without the insert 6, as is illustrated in FIG. 2a.

Shown in FIGS. 3a to 5b are various exemplary embodiments of inserts 6, each in a spatial illustration and in cross section.

A first exemplary insert 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. This insert 6 has a substantially rectangular cross section. Furthermore, this insert 6 is formed in multiple parts, wherein four identical parts are used for forming one insert 6. This insert 6 does not have a spacer.

Illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b is a second exemplary insert 6. This insert 6 has a substantially trapezoidal cross section. Furthermore, this insert 6 is formed in multiple parts, wherein four identical parts are used for forming one insert 6. This insert 6 has four spacers 12, each part having one spacer 12.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b is a third exemplary insert 6. This insert 6 has a substantially rectangular cross section. Furthermore, this insert 6 is formed in one piece. This insert 6 has a spacer 12 which is formed as an encircling ring about the insert 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 1 Container
  • 2 Bottom
  • 3 Side wall
  • 4 Lid
  • 5 Liner
  • 6 Insert
  • 7 Pump
  • 8 Follower plate
  • 9 Spacing
  • 10 Height of the insert
  • 11 Diameter of the insert
  • 12 Spacer
  • A Product

Claims

1. A container with a product packaged therein, comprising: a rigid cylindrical container having a bottom, a side wall and a lid;a flexible liner;a pasty product which is enclosed by the liner and arranged in the container, whereinthe container moreover comprises an insert which is arranged on the bottom and below the product enclosed in the liner, and which has a substantially round circular outline smaller than the bottom, and which is arranged so as to be substantially centric on the bottom in such a way that there is a spacing between the insert and the side wall.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is sized relative to the container in such a manner that the spacing is between 2 and 10 cm.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the insert is between 1% and 6% of a height of the container, and/or wherein a height of the insert is between 1 cm and 6 cm.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert has a rectangular or trapezoidal or polygonal cross section.

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is formed substantially as a truncated cone, or as a truncated cone on a plinth, or as a cylinder having a rounded or beveled upper edge.

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert has at least one spacer which is sized and arranged in such a manner that it bridges the spacing between the insert and the side wall and as a result predefines a position of the insert on the bottom.

7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the insert has at least two or at least three or at least four spacers.

8. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spacer has a lower height than the insert, and/or wherein the height of the spacer is between 20 and 60% of the height of the insert.

9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is formed from an expanded-foam plastics material.

10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is designed as one-piece.

11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is formed in multiple parts.

12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product is a one-component adhesive or sealant.

13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible liner is formed as a foil/film.

14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is formed from sheet metal.

15. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has a volume of 50 to 500 l.