Patent Application
20180370674
The present invention relates to a partially collapsible fluid dispensing container for dispensing fluid, in particular, viscous fluid. More particularly, the invention relates to aseptically processable containers that are partially collapsible allowing the emptying of their content.
Aseptic packaging is usually used for the packaging of spoilable substances, such as foodstuffs or beverages for example. In aseptic packaging techniques the spoilable substance is sterilised by rapid exposure to heat, rapidly cooled to an ambient temperature and then filled into a sterilised package. The sterilised package is then sealed in a sterile environment. Aseptic packaging techniques retain more nutrients and properties of the spoilable substance and use less energy than retort sterilisation techniques.
Aseptic packaging techniques are often used in applications where the spoilable substance is flowable and in these situations the aseptic packaging techniques utilise squeezable pouches. The squeezable pouches contain the spoilable substance. The squeezable pouches, when squeezed, collapse to allow a content of the squeezable pouches to be readily emptied by the application of pressure. The squeezable pouches are often made up of flexible, multi-layer, multi-materials (e.g. plastics, metals, papers). The flexible, multi-layer, multi-materials (e.g. plastics, metals, papers) are often manufactured to have specific barriers properties to the outside environment.
However, these squeezable pouches can pose some problems, particularly when dealing with viscous fluids, as they do not allow the complete delivery of their content easily or they would require complicated means in order to effect a complete emptying of the content inside them.
WO 2010/080280 A1 describes a partially collapsible bottle where one wall collapses over another by the suction effect created from the emptying of the fluid content, typically a nutritional composition administered to a patient. However, this device will not allow a proper dispensing when a viscous fluid is contained inside of it, neither a complete dispensing of its content simply by the emptying suction effect.
A similar device is shown for example in document US 2007/272705 A1 of the prior art, where the two walls of a container collapse over each other by the content being emptied with no ventilation. The main application of this container is for pressurized infusions. However, it would not allow a proper nor easy delivery of a fluid viscous product comprised inside.
There is a need to provide a container which overcomes the drawbacks in the state of the art and which is therefore able to deliver viscous fluids in an easy and hygienic way, allowing the complete emptying of the product comprised inside.
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a partially collapsible dispensing container extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and second end, the container comprising an opening for dispensing fluid at said second end, such that the container comprises a collapsible part and a retaining part, the collapsible part and the retaining part being arranged successively along the longitudinal axis and the collapsible part is configured to collapse at least partially inside the retaining part by the application of pressure substantially in a direction of the container longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the collapsing part of the container is configured to collapse by inverting its shape and conforming to substantially the inner shape of the retaining part in order to allow the dispensing of the fluid inside the container. Also preferably, the collapsible part extends along the longitudinal axis from the first end towards the retaining part and the retaining part extends along the longitudinal axis from the second end towards the collapsible part.
Typically, according to the invention, in non-collapsed state, the retaining part and the collapsible part of the container have substantially complementary shapes. The collapsible part typically forms a wall of lower rigidity than the wall formed by the retaining part.
The thickness of the collapsible part is typically comprised between 20% and 70% of the thickness of the retaining part, being preferably of around 40% of the thickness of the retaining part.
Preferably, the thickness of the collapsible part is of around 250 microns, +/−100 microns, the thickness of the retaining part being of around 600 microns, +/−100 microns.
According to the invention, the partially collapsible dispensing container is typically made of aseptically processable plastics such as one or a combination of: thermoplastic polyolefin(s) taken from the group of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP); and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and/or bio based polymer; and/or polymers making the container substantially compostable such as compostable polyester.
Preferably, the partially collapsible dispensing container of the invention further comprises at least one oxygen barrier layer, such as an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer. More preferably, it further comprises at least a light barrier layer, such as a black layer selected to absorb UV light.
Typically, the partially collapsible dispensing of the invention is configured as a multilayer, with a configuration such as: LDPE/Black Layer/EVOH/LDPE or MDPE/Black Layer/EVOH/MDPE or HDPE/Black Layer/EVOH/HDPE.
According to a possible embodiment, the wall of the collapsible part of the container is made integral to the wall of the retaining part.
The partially collapsible dispensing container of the invention can be made in one single piece wherein the collapsible part and the retaining part are delimited by a transversal joint, defining the deformation limit of the collapsible part inside the retaining part.
Preferably, the partially collapsible dispensing container is configured as a bottle, comprising an opening through which fluid is delivered and a base on the opposite side to the opening.
Typically, the container of the invention has a volume comprised between 5 ml and 250 ml.
Preferably, the first end of the container of the invention comprises at least one centring recess for a mechanical actuation device.
Typically, the container of the invention comprises inside a fluid aseptically processed, which is shelf-stable, and/or a fluid filled under ultra-clean conditions, with an extended shelf-life.
According to a second aspect, the invention refers to a system comprising a partially collapsible dispensing container as the one described, further comprising a mechanical actuation device configured to apply a pressure on the collapsible part of the container substantially parallel to the container longitudinal axis in order to allow dispensing of the fluid inside.
Preferably, in the system of the invention, the mechanical actuation device comprises a piston having a shape substantially the same as the inner shape of the retaining part.
Typically, the mechanical actuation device is configured to be able to dispense the content of containers having different sizes, collapsing the collapsible part over the retaining part.
In the system of the invention, the mechanical actuation device is configured to collapse the collapsible part over the retaining part up to a transversal joint delimiting the collapsible part and the retaining part.
Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.
a-c show schematic views of partially collapsible fluid dispensing container according to the present invention.
The present invention relates to a partially collapsible fluid dispensing container 100 for dispensing fluid, in particular, viscous fluid. More particularly, the invention relates to an aseptically processable container 100 that is partially collapsible allowing the emptying of its content, as it will be further explained in detail.
In the present application, the term “fluid” refers to a flowable substance, essentially to liquid or viscous paste or gel, or a mixture of any one of liquid, viscous, paste, gel, with gas inclusion and/or discrete solid pieces, particles, granules, beads, chips and the like. The fluid can be foodstuff such as a dairy or beverage liquid composition or ice cream mix.
The container 100 of the invention can be an aseptic packaging: it is preferably used for containing and dispensing spoilable substances, more preferably foodstuffs or beverages. The container of the invention is preferably intended for products aseptically processed, which are shelf-stable. However, it can also be convenient for products filled under ultra-clean conditions, having an extended shelf-life.
As shown in
In what follows in the present description, the term “semi-rigid wall” means that the wall is made of a material that is flexible or stretchable and does not resume its original shape or position after pressure has been applied to it. As used in this description, the term “rigid wall” means that the wall is made of a material that is stiff and does resume its original shape, or stays very close to its original shape after pressure has been applied to it.
Preferably, the external force applied to the semi-rigid wall 102 in order to collapse it over the inner wall of the rigid wall 101 is exerted by means of a mechanical actuation device 10, preferably a piston, whose external shape conforms to the inner shape of the rigid wall 101, therefore allowing its correct inversion, as shown in
Therefore, the invention further relates to a system comprising a mechanical actuation device 10 (preferably a piston) dimensioned and shaped as the inner shape of the rigid wall 101 and complementarily to the semi-rigid wall 102 so as to engage it and invert it into the inner shape of the rigid wall 101.
As it is shown in
The container 100, more particularly the opening 20 of the container 100, can be closed by means of a lid or cap (not shown) in the Figures attached), also by means of a technical cap for example: this lid will be removed or opened so as to leave the opening 20 free when the piston 10 applies pressure over the semi-rigid wall 102 of the container, allowing dispensing of the fluid inside. Typically, when the container 100 is filled in aseptic conditions, it is then sealed preferably by a material that is welded to the opening 20. The container 100 can be also sealed by a lid or a screw cap on this opening 20. The container 100 can be sealed by a material that is welded to the opening 20 and a combination of the lid or screw cap to this opening. The sealing of the container 100 is often dependent on the nature of the contents to be filled in the container. It is preferable that the container is sealed with a metal foil such as aluminium.
The container 100 of the invention is preferably made of plastics material and is produced through extrusion blow moulding. The rigid and semi-rigid walls 101 and 102 respectively of the container 100 are created by modulating the flow of plastic and using special pin/bushing configuration. Extrusion blow moulding has the advantage that aseptically processable plastics and the container 100 can be manufactured with a uniform thickness. During extrusion blow moulding pin and bushing tools of the extrusion blow moulding apparatus can be adjusted to adjust the thickness of the container 100. Extrusion blow moulding has the advantage that the container can be manufactured easily into desired shapes; all parts of the container, opening 20, semi-rigid-wall 102, rigid wall 101 and base 30 are singly integrated into the container 100, avoiding the need for separate welding of constituents of the container, which could provide weak points in the container structure. Since the whole container 100 is integrated as a single piece configuring the mentioned container, this can be partially collapsed as explained in order to allow its content be readily and completely emptied. In the Figures attached, a split line or transversal joint 120 has been represented, as joining the two parts, 101 and 102: however, out of the extrusion blow moulding process, no joint 120 can also be obtained, so there will be a continuous transition between the retaining part 101 (rigid wall 101) and the collapsible part 102 (semi-rigid wall 102).
The materials used for the container 100 of the invention are preferably aseptically processable plastics which can be for example, single materials, mixtures of, multilayers of, or combinations thereof, of:
The walls of the container 100 comprise at least one oxygen barrier layer (this is typically obtained by the ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer) and light barrier layer, such as e.g. a black layer. This black layer is selected to absorb UV light, ensuring that the contents of the container 100 are protected from light, which may degrade the contents of the container. It is preferable that the wall of the container 100 is a multilayer of the aseptically processable plastics and is arranged as any one of the thermoplastic(s) polyolefin as noted above and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Most preferably the wall is a multilayer and can have one of the following configurations:
These polyethylenes provide a water/moisture barrier to the container 100 and thus prevent any water/moisture entering or leaving the container. These polyethylenes therefore maintain integrity (e.g. freshness) of the contents of the container and prevent any degradation of the container that could be caused by water/moisture.
Typically, the thickness of the semi-rigid wall 102 is of around 250 microns, +/−100 microns. The thickness of the rigid wall 101 is of around 600 microns, +/−100 microns. The thickness of the semi-rigid wall 102 is preferably comprised between 20% to 70% of the thickness of the rigid wall 101, being more preferably of around 40% of the thickness of the rigid wall 101.
The semi-rigid wall 102 is collapsible upon an applied force ranging from 5 N to 1000 N, preferably from 5 N to 500 N, more preferably from 5 N to 100 N. Several tests have been made and they show that the average force to be applied onto the semi-rigid wall 102 when the container is empty from fluid is of about 45 N. As a reference, these tests have been made with an element in the machine compressing this semi-rigid wall 102, moving at a speed of up to 480 mm/min in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 110 of the container, the average time for the full compression and inversion of this wall 102 being of around 9 seconds.
The term “aseptically processable plastics” means at least one plastic that can be processed in aseptic conditions without causing any degradation to the plastic and/or degradation of any properties of the plastic.
By the term “compressed” or “collapsed” used in the present description, it should be understood that the container changes its shape when used and does not recover its shape by itself. The collapsible container 100 of the invention, having preferably a shape similar to a bottle, can be delivered compressed or collapsed when empty (as per
As shown in
The container 100 has preferably a volume of between 5 ml to 250 ml. The container can have a volume of 10 ml, 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml, 100 ml, 125 ml, 150 ml, 175 ml, 200 ml, 225 ml. The dimensions such as radius and height of the body determine the volume of the container 100, these two parameters being modified depending on the intended shape and use of the container.
The aseptically processable plastics of the container 100 according to the present invention ensure that the container can be readily recycled by conventional techniques.
The shape of the container 100 of the present invention is conventional, typically configured as a bottle, easy to hold, fill, package and store and is devoid of any sharp edges as apparent from pouches.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15195547.3 | Nov 2015 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2016/077775 | 11/15/2016 | WO | 00 |
