Patent Application
20170080440
The invention relates to a two-channel dispensing device intended to close a vial.
Such devices are found notably in the form of two-channel valves for aerosol containers or in the form of two-channel pumps. They are used to withdraw and dispense products stored in two different reservoirs. The two products must not come in contact until the time of use, either because of their incompatibility or because of their reactivity.
Generally, two separate containers are used, each of which must be fixed to one of the output channels. This requires storing reservoirs and fixing them separately.
Besides the two reservoirs, such dispensing devices are generally also provided with a first channel whose first end, called first inlet end, opens into the first reservoir and whose second end, called first outlet end, opens outside of the first reservoir, and with a second channel whose first end, called second inlet end, opens into the second reservoir and whose second end, called second outlet end, opens outside of the second reservoir. First and second closing means are provided in the first and in the second channel, said closing means being capable of being changed from a closed position, in which a product contained in the corresponding reservoir cannot exit said reservoir, to an opened position, in which a product contained in the corresponding reservoir can exit said reservoir. The closing means can return to the closed position. The two channels are isolated from each other at least between their inlet ends and the respective closing means.
A distinction exists between the dispensing devices with two concentric channels and those with two parallel channels. In the first case, one channel surrounds the other at least in the section between their inlet ends and the closing means. In the second case, the case concerned by the present invention, the inlet ends of the two channels are separated and spaced from each other.
The objective of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of such dispensing devices. Another objective is to obtain reservoirs that occupy in an optimized manner the space defined by the container on which the dispensing device is intended to be fixed.
The main objective of the invention is achieved in that the reservoirs are formed by a single flexible pouch separated into first and second compartments by a central partition, the first compartment performing the function of the first reservoir and the second compartment that of second reservoir, the inlet end of the first channel opening into the first compartment and the inlet end of the second channel opening into the second compartment so that the two compartments are isolated from one another. Thus, a single pouch makes it possible to form two reservoirs. As a result, it is sufficient to position a single pouch and to fix it, for example, by welding, at the inlet ends of each channel.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pouch is constituted by two substantially trapezoidal panels each having two opposite edges that can be parallel at least in the area of the central partition, the first being called upper edge and the second lower edge, and two side edges, the central partition extending from the lower edge to the upper edge, the upper, lower and side edges of the two panels being connected together so as to form a sealed assembly, a portion of the first channel being interposed between the upper edges of the first and second panels on one side of the central partition and a portion of the second channel being interposed between the upper edges of the first and second panels on the other side of the central partition. Each panel has an inner face and an outer face, the inner faces being directed toward each other, the central partition being obtained by fixing the inner faces of the two panels one over the other, and the upper edge and the lower edge being obtained at least partly by fixing the inner sides of the two panels to each other in the area of the central partition, while interposing the first and second channels.
A simple way of manufacturing such a pouch with two compartments is to use a single strip folded in two along the lower edge, the central partition and the connection of the side edges and of the upper edge being obtained by fixing the two panels to each other by their inner faces.
To optimize the space occupied by the filled pouch in the container, it is preferable to fold the side edges of the pouch between the two panels toward the central partition so as to form in each container a two-fold gusset. Each gusset is defined by two folds, each of which extends from the upper edges toward the lower edges of the panels of the pouch. In this embodiment with gussets, it is also preferable that the pouch be made of a single strip folded on itself so as to form the two gussets. The strip has an inner face and an outer face and it is folded so that the inner face is directed inwardly. The connection between the two panels at the upper edge and the lower edge can then be made partly by fixing the two panels to each other by their inner faces (notably near the central partition) with the interposition of a portion of the channels, and partly by fixing a panel to itself by its inner side (in the area of the folds).
Part or all of the corners of the folds which form the gussets, and which are located opposite from the central partition, can be cut. In this case, the lower edge and/or the upper edge are inclined toward the opposite edge when moving away from the central partition. The four upper corners and/or the four lower corners can be cut. It can also be sufficient to simply incline the upper edge and/or the lower edge toward the other edge when moving away from the central partition, without cutting the corner located above or below the inclined portion of the edge. In this variant, one moves away more or less from the trapezoidal shape depending on the inclination of the edges, and the upper and lower edges, at least in their inclined portions, are no longer parallel.
Whether the compartments are provided with gussets or not, the portions of the channels interposed in the upper edge preferably have each an outer cross-section in the shape of a diamond, the angles of the long axes of the diamonds being pointed and the angles of the short axes being rounded, the angles of the long axes of the two passages being aligned in a same plane. To improve the attachment of the pouch to the dispensing device, notably in the area of the central partition, it is preferable to connect the two portions of the channels interposed in the upper edges by a wall extending from one pointed angle of the end of the first channel toward the adjacent pointed angle of the end of the second channel.
The different fixations of the panels to each other, notably the fixation of the side edges, of the upper and lower edges and of the central partition, can be obtained in different ways, notably by gluing or by thermal bonding, in particular by welding.
In order to facilitate the introduction of the pouch in a container, it is preferable to roll up the pouch around the central partition or to accordion-fold it on both sides of the central partition, retaining means being preferably provided to maintain the pouch in this position.
The dispensing device of the invention can be applied to two-channel valves for aerosol containers as well as to two-channel pumps.
The invention is described in more detail below with the assistance of the following figures:
The invention relates to a two-channel dispensing device intended to close a container. It is particularly suitable for valves with two separate channels for aerosol containers or for pumps with two separate channels. The example presented here concerns an aerosol valve. It can be easily generalized to other delivery devices such as two-channel pumps.
The dispensing device equipped with the double pouch is intended to be fixed on a container. In the mounted state, the dispensing device has an inner side facing the inside of the container and an outer side, directed toward the outside of the container. The terms “inner” and “outer” refer to this mounted state, even when the dispensing device is considered alone. In addition, the container and the dispensing device have ordinarily a certain symmetry of rotation about a main axis passing through the vial and then the dispensing device. The adjectives “axial” or “radial” refer to this main axis and define an element parallel to the axis or perpendicular to this axis, respectively.
The term two-channel dispensing device means a device having two distinct passages or channels (21, 22), each connecting, when the device is mounted on a container, the inside of said container to the outside of the container. These devices are used to withdraw two different products stored in two separate reservoirs in order to prevent them from coming in contact with each other prior to being withdrawn. Each passage (21, 22) is characterized by a first end (211, 221), called inlet end, located on the inner side of the withdrawing device and by a second end (212, 222), called outlet end, located on the outside of the withdrawal device. Closing means (231, 253, 232, 254, 233) are provided within the dispensing device to sealingly close each of the passages so that, when the dispensing device is in the closed position, the portions of the passages located upstream of the closing means (that is to say, between the inlet ends (211, 221) and the closing means) do not communicate with each other. Downstream of the closing means, the passages can meet to form a common passage, or, on the contrary, they can remain separate until exiting from the valve, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment presented here.
The present invention relates to two-channel dispensing devices whose passages, on the inner side, are separated and at a distance from each other. They can be extended on the inner side by dipping tubes (213, 223).
In the example shown here, the valve (2) is essentially formed by a valve body (24), a stem (25), a first seal (231) and a second seal (232), a crenellated annular spacer (26) separating the two seals, a spring (233) and a cup (27). The cup serves to fix the valve on the neck of a housing which is not shown. The stem (25) is provided with two concentric channels (251, 252) that open at the outer side surface of the stem, each by one or more orifices (253, 254). The orifices of a channel are all positioned in a same radial plane relative to the main axis. The radial plane in which the orifices (253) of the first channel (251) open is separate from the radial plane in which the orifices (254) of the second channel (252) open. The channels (251, 252) and their orifices (253, 254) each form the portion of the passages (21, 22) located downstream of the closing means. It is not necessary for these channels to be concentric; they could be distinct and at a distance from one another. The valve is crimped onto the cup (27). The first seal (231) has the shape of a flat circular gasket whose inner diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the stem in the area of the first orifices (253), while the second seal (232) has a generally cylindrical shape whose inner diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the stem in the area of the second orifices (254). The spring (233) tends to push the stem outwards (upwards in the figures) in the closed position. The stem (25) is retained in the closed position by a shoulder (255) which comes to abut against the first seal (231). In the closed position of the valve, the first orifices (253) are aligned with the first seal (231) and the second orifices (254) with the second seal (232). The passages (21, 22) are thus interrupted at these two seals and the inside of the container is isolated from the outside. When the stem (25) is depressed toward the inside of the container against the force of the spring (233), the orifices (253, 254) come closer to the inside of the container and are no longer in contact with the seals. The passages (21, 22) are open and the products can exit. The first seal (231), the ends of the first orifices (253) in contact with the first seal and the spring (233) form the first closing means, while the second seal (232), the ends of the second orifices (254) in contact with the second seal and the spring (233) form the second closing means. As soon as the pressure exerted on the stem is removed, the stem returns to its initial position under the effect of the spring. As a result, the valve, and therefore the closing means along with it, can be opened and closed at will.
Rather than using two pouches or two separate containers, one for each passage, the invention uses a double pouch.
The double pouch (1) is preferably formed by two superposed, substantially trapezoidal panels (101, 102). In practice, essentially, rectangular panels are used. Each panel has an inner face and an outer face, which can be of identical or different nature. The two panels face each other by their inner faces. In addition, each panel has two opposing edges which can be at least partly parallel, the first called upper edge (15) and the second lower edge (11), and two side edges (103, 104). If the panels are rectangular, the two side edges are parallel to each other. The upper, lower and side edges of the two panels are connected together so as to form a sealed assembly, forming the upper edge, the lower edge and the side edges of the pouch. The central partition (12) is obtained by fixing the two faces (101, 102) one over the other by their inner faces. It extends from the upper edge to the lower edge of the pouch. A portion of the first channel, for example, its inlet end (211), is interposed in the upper edge of the pouch between the upper edges of the first and second panels on one side of the central partition, and a portion of the second channel, for example, its inlet end (221), is interposed in the upper edge of the pouch between the upper edges of the first and second panels on the other side of the central partition.
In a first simple embodiment of the invention, the pouch is formed by a single strip folded in two along the lower edge, the central partition and the connection of the side edges and of the upper edge being obtained by fixing the two panels one over the other while the fold forms the lower edge of the pouch. The fixation can be obtained, for example, by heat sealing or by gluing. The pouch is thus divided into two separate compartments (13, 14) by the central partition. Several manufacturing methods are possible. The pouch can be manufactured in a first step and fixed to the valve in a second step, the central partition being provided at one or the other step. It is also conceivable to form the pouch by folding and to insert the valve before providing the various welds.
For example, the strip is folded onto itself along the lower edge of the pouch, the inner face is welded onto itself, on the one hand, along the side edges forming the side edges of the pouch, and on the other hand, in its central portion, from the fold toward the upper edge of the pouch, so as to form a central weld. The double pouch is thus divided into two separate compartments (13, 14) separated from each other by the central weld (12). It is still open at the upper edge. The valve (2) is then introduced into the upper opening, with the first inlet end (211) in the first compartment (13) and the second inlet end (221) in the second compartment (14). Finally, the inner face of the double pouch is welded at its upper edge, partly onto itself and partly on the outer walls of the inlet ends (211, 221) of the two channels. The central weld (12) extends to this upper weld so that the two compartments are sealed and completely separated from each other. Their contents cannot come in contact without going through the valve.
After it has been attached to the valve, the double pouch is preferably rolled up around the main longitudinal axis of the valve or accordion-folded on both sides of this main axis. The pouch is maintained in this position, for example, by using one or more self-adhesive strips. When filling a vial equipped with a two-channel valve provided with a double pouch of the invention, which is rolled up or accordion-folded, the two compartments (13, 14) expand in volume, the adhesive strip yields, and the two compartments can deploy within the vial.
During filling, the machine fills the two pouches in succession. When the pouches are rolled up, it can happen that the side edge of the second bag is wedged between the first expanded pouch and the wall of the housing. In this case, a tearing of the second compartment or a rupture of the second channel could be observed at the time of filling the second reservoir. Moreover, once filled, the reservoirs have substantially the form of cylinders that do not use the space of the housing optimally.
To overcome these two disadvantages, in a second embodiment of the pouch, each compartment (13, 14) is equipped with a vertical gusset (16, 17). For this, the side edges (103, 104) of the bag are folded between the two panels toward the central partition (12) so as to form a two-fold gusset (16, 17) in each reservoir. In the area of the gusset, because of the folding of the side edges between the two panels, the two panels do no longer face each other; each panel faces itself. In practice, one can, for example, take a rectangular strip of which two opposite edges are fixed to one another so as to form a tubular sleeve having an inner face and an outer face. A portion of the sleeve forms the first panel and the other portion the second panel of the pouch. The two edges of the strip can overlap so that the inner face of an edge is located on the outer face of the other edge. The two edges can also overlap so that the two inner faces are in contact. It is also possible to place the two side edges side by side and fix them together by a welded strip on their inner and/or outer sides. The two gussets (16, 17) are obtained by folding the side edges (103, 104) between the two panels (101, 102) toward the center of the pouch. Each gusset (16, 17) thus has two folds and extends from the lower edge to the upper edge of the pouch. In the example shown here, the width of a fold corresponds approximately to ⅙ of the width of each panel (101, 102). It is now possible to weld the pouch onto itself by its inner face, on the one hand, in the area of the lower edge, forming a lower weld (11), and on the other hand, in its central part (12), from the lower edge (11) toward the upper edge. The two folds forming a gusset are not welded to each other, since the lower weld (11) divides in the area of each fold. This is well visible in
The double pouch thus has two compartments (13, 14) separated from each other by the central weld (12) and each equipped, opposite from the central weld (12), with a gusset (16, 17). The folds forming the gussets are located in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve. Like in the first embodiment of the invention, the valve (2) is inserted into the top opening of the double pouch, with the first inlet end (211) in the first compartment (13) and the second inlet end (221) in the second compartment (14). The double pouch is welded at its upper edge, partly onto itself and partly on the outer walls of the inlet ends (211, 221) of the passages, thus forming an upper weld (15). Like at the lower edge, the folds of a gusset are not welded one over the other, since the upper weld divides at each fold. This is well visible in
Like in the first embodiment, the double pouch can be rolled up around the main axis or accordion-folded on both sides of this axis. It is maintained in this position with one or more retaining strips until the reservoirs are filled. During filling, the retaining strips yield under the pressure of the product and the compartments expand in volume. Thanks to the gussets, the width of the double pouch before filling is smaller. This way, the outer side edges of the gussets, that is to say, the top of the folds, rub for a shorter time against the container wall during unwinding. When filling the compartments, the gussets deploy and each compartment occupies a space fairly close to a half-cylinder. This is shown schematically in
The bottoms and/or the tops of the housings often have a dome shape. To prevent the lower or upper edges of the folds forming the gussets from rubbing against the bottom or top of the reservoir, it is possible to cut the lower or upper outer corners of the folds, as shown in
To ensure secure attachment of the double pouch on the inlet ends (211, 221) of the passages, the inlet ends of the passages have each preferably an external cross-section in the shape of a diamond. The angles (241) of the long axes of the diamonds are pointed and the angles (242) of the short axes are rounded. Moreover, the angles (241) of the long axes of the two passages are aligned in a same radial plane. In order to ensure a good weld strength between the two inlet ends (211, 221), it can be provided that these two inlet ends (211, 221) are connected by a radial wall (243) extending from a pointed angle (241) of the first inlet end (211) to the adjacent pointed angle (241) of the second inlet end (221).
The central weld (12) is not necessarily located in the middle of the tubular wall 5. It can be off-center so as to form two compartments having different volumes. Likewise, the gussets of the compartments are not necessarily of the same depth. This also makes it possible to form pouches having different volumes.
Fixing the two panels onto each other, particularly at the central partition (12) and at the side, upper and lower edges (11, 15), can be carried out by any suitable means, notably by heat sealing, for example, by ultrasound, induction, heating jaws, laser, hot air jet. Depending on the materials, these fixations can be obtained by other means, such as by gluing.
The pouch can be made of a single material or with several layers of different materials. As an example, one can mention laminated films composed of polyethylene terephthalate/aluminum/nylon/polyethylene or polypropylene.
The two-channel valve equipped with a pouch of the invention can be used in many fields, notably in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, for technical products or food, household care products (wax for furniture), air fresheners, insecticides, etc.
By fixing the two panels of the pouch one over the other at the central partition, it is not necessary to interpose between the two compartments a further wall, for example, in the form of a third panel. The central partition is located in the same plane as the upper and lower edges of the pouch. Similarly, by forming the folds by folding a single strip, the need to weld folds between two different panels is avoided. A single strip makes it possible to form the two panels, the central partition and optionally the gussets.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1450638 | Jan 2014 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/051607 | 1/27/2015 | WO | 00 |
