Device for storing a filling material

Abstract

Device (10) for storing a filling material, in particular a liquid, comprising: - a flexible bag (12) for receiving the contents, the bag (12) having a flexible and flexible tube (14), the tube (14) having a first end (16) with which the tube (14) is arranged on the bag (12), the tube (14) having a second end (18) for discharging the contents from the bag (12) and / or admitting the contents into the bag (12), the tube (14) having a central part (20) which is arranged between the first end (16) and the second end (18), - a dimensionally stable container (22), wherein the bag (12) is arranged inside the container (22), wherein the hose (14) is designed to be transferable into a first position (24) in which the hose (14) is arranged in the container (22), wherein the hose (14) is designed to be transferable into a second position (26) in which the hose (14) protrudes from the container (22), wherein the device (10) is designed such that a volume flow through the hose (14) can be enabled, prevented and / or varied by changing a cross section of the central part (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for storing a filling material with the features of claim 1.

[0002] There are several challenges in packaging technology, particularly in the area of bag-in-box packaging for liquid, viscous, and free-flowing products with large volumes (200-1000 liters). Common solutions for such packaging typically feature a structural separation between the sealing part, usually a bag, and a stability-providing part, such as a box.

[0003] Typically, these packages are designed according to a concept in which the bag is hung in the box and filled with the contents. The bag is provided with at least one opening for filling and at least one further opening for emptying. These openings are usually located on a side of the box. A separate filling opening can also be positioned on the top. The outlet opening for emptying the contents is usually implemented in two ways: 1. Direct attachment of a flat-design shut-off device / valve, such as a butterfly valve or ball valve, for manual operation. This shut-off device can be connected to the side wall of the box. 2. Attaching a nozzle with a corresponding interface for attaching a separate shut-off device or connector. When attached, the shut-off device, with a defined design, pierces the film layer and opens the bag. This nozzle is also designed flat and is usually connected to the side wall of the box or pushed through.

[0004] The disadvantage is that the outlet must be precisely positioned within the box to avoid transport damage, as well as the risk of damage to the shut-off device or connector due to filling pressure. Further disadvantages are described below: The distance between the outlet opening, a pallet frame and a target container must be bridged. If an outlet tap is installed directly on the bag, the distance must be bridged with a bridging piece (e.g. hose, pipe). If a separate outlet tap is supplied for the connector, this must bridge the distance. In the first case, the bridging piece protrudes over the edge of the pallet during partial emptying and must be removed when the tap is closed for movement, e.g. to the warehouse. In the second case, dismantling the outlet tap is no longer possible because the interface between the tap and the bag remains open. If the outlet tap or the spacer protrudes over the edge of the pallet, it can be damaged when the packaging is handled and the contents can leak out. It is generally not possible to stow the outlet tap / connector in the box.

[0005] The use of separate disposable parts or complex one-way outlet valves runs counter to increasingly stringent resource conservation requirements. These are typically permanently attached to the bag and cannot be reused.

[0006] The use of disposable parts is also reflected in the packaging costs, thus increasing the overall costs.

[0007] Precise dosing in large-volume packaging solutions at low cost is very problematic. Existing solutions are designed to empty the entire fill volume as quickly as possible. Fine dosing, especially at high fill volumes / pressures, is not implemented.

[0008] Despite the goal of achieving high flow rates at the outlet ports, most one-way outlet valves are designed in such a way that not the entire cross-section of the port is available as a flow area. Classic shut-off devices are butterfly valves and ball valves, which reduce the cross-sectional area to up to 50% of the potential area because the sealing elements impair the flow rate. One solution to this is the use of larger ports, which usually results in the same problem. Thus, the full potential flow rate is unused, and the emptying time of the packaging solution is increased.

[0009] Attaching a separate connection piece to the outlet opening is usually associated with risk. Incorrect installation or mismatched designs (e.g., sealing surfaces, threads, etc.) can result in leakage. Leaking fluids can pose an environmental hazard and, in the case of moisture-sensitive materials, destabilize and / or damage the box.

[0010] US 2012 / 0318821 A discloses a solution in which the outlet tap is coupled to a guide element that can be stored inside the box and pulled out when needed. However, the use of moving hard components presents challenges regarding sealing and functionality. Sealing such moving parts is typically technically complex and requires more resources.

[0011] WO 2010 / 082017 A1 discloses an alternative solution, proposing the use of a flexible element between the bag and the outlet valve. This allows for easy retrieval and storage of the outlet valve. However, the use of a shut-off device / valve to control the outflow is required.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for storing a filling material, wherein the above disadvantages are eliminated.

[0013] The above object is achieved by a device for storing a filling material having the features of claim 1. The filling material can, in particular, be a liquid. The filling material can, in particular, be a liquid, viscous, and / or free-flowing filling material.

[0014] The device comprises a pliable bag for holding the contents. The bag can be made of plastic. The bag has a pliable and flexible tube. The tube has a first end and a second end. The tube is arranged with its first end on the bag. The second end of the tube is configured to discharge the contents from the bag and / or to admit the contents into the bag. The tube has a middle part. The middle part is arranged between the first end and the second end of the tube.

[0015] The device comprises a dimensionally stable container. The container can be in the form of a box. The box can be made of a material, in particular a rigid material such as corrugated cardboard, wood, plastic and / or metal. The bag is arranged inside the container. The hose is designed to be transferable into a first and a second position. In the first position, the hose is arranged inside the container. In the second position, the hose protrudes from the container. In the second position, the hose is arranged in particular partially outside the container.

[0016] The device is designed in such a way that by changing the cross-section of the middle part of the hose, a volume flow through the hose can be enabled, prevented and / or varied, in particular dosed.

[0017] In the present case, changing the cross-section of the middle part of the hose means, in particular, changing the diameter of the middle part of the hose (e.g. by turning it (tightening / untightening it) and / or squeezing it (de-tightening it).

[0018] This allows for dosing without the need for a shut-off device / valve. Since the dosing and discharge function is implemented via the middle section of the hose, which is already firmly attached to the bag, the hose can be protected from external influences and / or the filling pressure of the contents during transport and storage. For emptying, the hose can be removed from the container and used without the need for separate equipment. This allows precise and safe dosing of the contents during emptying, both manually and with machines. The hose, whose middle section forms a dosing unit for the device, can then be stowed back in the box.

[0019] In particular, this allows for simple volumetric flow control of the contents stored in the bag. When the hose is 100% open, maximum volumetric flow can be achieved, as there are no seals, valves, or similar devices that obstruct the flow.

[0020] According to a further development of the device, the device can be designed such that the cross section of the central part of the hose can be prevented by rotating the second end of the hose in and / or against the circumferential direction.

[0021] In this way, the volume flow of the filling material through the hose can be enabled (with an open cross-section), prevented (with a closed cross-section) and / or varied, in particular dosed (with different cross-sections) using simple means.

[0022] According to a further development of the device, a dimensionally stable, in particular annular or sleeve-shaped, outlet element can be arranged at the second end of the hose. The outlet element can be connected to the second end of the hose in a rotationally fixed manner. The outlet element and the second end of the hose are connected to one another in particular such that by rotating the outlet element in and / or counter to the circumferential direction, the second end of the hose is also rotated in and / or counter to the circumferential direction.

[0023] This allows the cross-section of the middle section and thus the volume flow through the hose to be closed, opened and / or varied using simple means.

[0024] According to a further development of the device, the device can have a closure element for closing the outlet element. The closure element can be designed in the form of a lid, in particular a screw cap.

[0025] This allows the outlet element to be closed or opened using simple means.

[0026] According to a further development of the device, the closure element can be connected to the outlet element 8E. It is also conceivable that the closure element can be designed to be connectable, closable and / or openable to the outlet element by means of a bayonet connection and / or a similar or other connection.

[0027] This allows a (detachable) connection between the closure element and the outlet element to be implemented using simple means.

[0028] According to a further development of the device, the device can have a clamping element. The clamping element can be designed to change the cross-section of the central part of the hose. This can be achieved, in particular, by squeezing or clamping the central part using the clamping element. The clamping element can be designed, in particular, as a bag clamp. The clamping element can be used to fix a twisting of the hose, in particular of the central part.

[0029] This allows the cross-section of the middle section and thus the volume flow through the hose to be closed, opened and / or varied using simple means.

[0030] According to a further development, the device can be designed as a bag-in-box packaging.

[0031] This makes it possible to provide a bag-in-box packaging that eliminates the disadvantages described above.

[0032] According to a further development of the device, the container can comprise a dimensionally stable, in particular cuboid-shaped, garage section. The garage section can be arranged at (or adjacent to) at least one opening in the container. The hose can be arranged within the garage section in the first position. In the second position, the hose can protrude from the garage section and through the opening out of the container.

[0033] This makes it possible to provide a protective space or volume for the hose using simple means, particularly within the container.

[0034] According to a further development of the device, the garage section can comprise a lid. The lid can be used to close and / or open the opening of the container. Thus, in particular, the garage section can be closed and / or opened by means of the lid.

[0035] This allows the garage section and the hose arranged or accommodated therein to be protected from environmental influences (e.g. dirt) outside the container using simple means.

[0036] According to a further development of the device, the garage section can have a receptacle for receiving the hose in the first position. The receptacle can be configured, in particular, to receive the second end of the hose and / or the outlet element in the first position. The receptacle can be configured to fix or hold the hose, its second end, and / or the outlet element in a predefined position (first position of the hose).

[0037] This allows the hose, its second end, and / or the outlet element to be held or fixed in the first position of the hose using simple means. This prevents damage to the hose, especially during transport of the device.

[0038] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show schematically: Fig. 1 a bag with a hose of a device for storing a filling material; Fig. 2 a cross-section of the device, wherein the hose is arranged in a first position; Fig. 3 a cross-section of the device according to Fig. 2, wherein the hose is arranged in a second position; Fig. 4 a cross-section of the device according to Fig. 2, wherein the hose is arranged in the second position and twisted in the circumferential direction and Fig. 5 a garage section of the device according to Fig. 2 with the hose in the first position (top) and the second position (bottom);

[0039] In the following description and in the figures, corresponding components and elements bear the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

[0040] Fig. 1 schematically shows a bag 12 with a tube 14 of a device 10 for storing a filling material.

[0041] The bag 12 is designed to be flexible and serves to hold the contents. The bag 12 has a flexible and flexible tube 14. The tube 14 has a first end 16 and a second end 18. The first end 16 of the tube 14 is arranged on the bag 12 or is connected to the bag 12. The second end 18 of the tube 14 is designed to release the contents from the bag 12 and / or to admit the contents into the bag 12. The tube 14 also has a central part 20. The central part 20 is arranged between the first end 16 and the second end 18 of the tube 14.

[0042] In the present case, the bag 12 has a filling opening 11 through which the bag 12 can be filled with a filling material. It is also conceivable that the bag 12 can be filled with filling material via the hose 14.

[0043] In the present case, a dimensionally stable, in particular annular or sleeve-shaped, outlet element 30 is arranged at the second end 18 of the hose 14. The outlet element 30 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second end 18 of the hose 14.

[0044] In the present case, the device 10 has a closure element 32 for closing or opening the outlet element 30. The closure element 32 can be designed to be connectable, closable, and / or openable to the outlet element 30 by means of a screw connection.

[0045] Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the device 10, wherein the hose 14 is arranged in a first position 24.

[0046] The device 10 comprises, in addition to the Fig. 1, a dimensionally stable container 22. The dimensionally stable container 22 is in the form of a box. The bag 12 is arranged inside the container 22. For the sake of clarity, the bag 12 is in Fig. 2 not shown. The hose 14 is designed to be transferable into the first position 24. In the first position 24, the hose 14 is arranged in the container 22 (in Fig. 2).

[0047] In this case, the container 22 comprises a further filling opening 13, which corresponds to the filling opening 11 of the bag 12. Thus, the bag 12 can be filled via the two filling openings 11, 13 while it is arranged in the container 22. It is also conceivable that the bag 12 can be filled via the hose 14 while it is arranged in the container 22.

[0048] The hose 14 is designed to be transferable into a second position 26 (cf. Fig. 3). In the second position 26, the hose 14 protrudes from the container 22. In other words, in the second position 26, the hose 14 is at least partially arranged outside the container 22.

[0049] The device 10 is designed such that by changing a cross-section of the central part 20 of the hose 14, a volume flow through the hose 14 can be enabled, prevented and / or varied.

[0050] In this case, the container 22 comprises a dimensionally stable, in particular cuboid-shaped, garage section 38. The garage section 38 is arranged at an opening 40 in the container 22. The hose 14 is arranged in the first position 24 within the garage section 38.

[0051] In this case, the garage section 38 comprises a lid 42, by means of which the opening 40 and thus the garage section 38 can be closed and / or opened. The lid 42 can form a component of the container 22.

[0052] The clamping element 34 can be configured to fix the change in the cross-section of the central part 20 (e.g., by twisting or squeezing) of the hose 14. Alternatively, the clamping element 34 can serve to change the cross-section of the central part 20, in particular by squeezing the central part 20 of the hose 14. In the present case, the cross-section of the central part 20 of the hose 14 is squeezed or closed by the clamping element 34 in such a way that no volume flow or throughflow through the hose 14 is possible.

[0053] The device 10 is designed here as a bag-in-box packaging 36.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows schematically a cross section of the device 10 according to Fig. 2, wherein the hose 14 is arranged in the second position 26.

[0055] In the present case, the opening 40 is opened by means of the lid 42. The hose 14 in the second position 26 protrudes from the garage section 38. The hose 14 protrudes through the opening 40 (opened by the lid 42) from the container 22. The clamping element 34 is in Fig. 3 is not shown or has already been removed from hose 14.

[0056] Fig. 4 shows schematically a cross section of the device 10 according to Fig. 2, wherein the hose 14 is arranged in the second position 26 and rotated in the circumferential direction 28. The clamping element 34 is in Fig. 4, analogous to Fig. 3, not shown or has already been removed from hose 14.

[0057] By twisting the hose 14 or its central part 20 in or against the circumferential direction 28, the cross section or diameter of the hose 14 or its central part 20 can be changed, in this case reduced. This allows the volume flow through the hose 14 to be metered. It is self-evident that the closure element 32 must first be removed from the outlet element 30 (in Fig. 4, the closure element 32 is still shown connected to the outlet element 30).

[0058] Fig. 5 shows schematically the garage section 38 of the device 10 according to Fig. 2 with the hose 14 in the first position 24 (top) and the second position 26 (bottom).

[0059] The garage section 38 comprises in the present case a receptacle 44 for receiving the hose 14, in particular its second end 18 and / or the outlet element 30, in the first position 24. Thus, the hose 14 can be received, held and / or fixed in a predefined first position 24 within the garage section 38 (cf. Fig. 5 above).

[0060] In the second position 26, the hose 14 is removed from the receptacle 44 so that the hose 14 can protrude from the garage section 38 and thus from the container 22 (cf. Fig. 5 below and Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2012 / 0318821 A

[0010] WO 2010 / 082017 A1

[0011]

Claims

[1] Device (10) for storing a filling material, in particular a liquid, comprising: - a flexible bag (12) for receiving the contents, the bag (12) having a flexible and flexible tube (14), the tube (14) having a first end (16) with which the tube (14) is arranged on the bag (12), the tube (14) having a second end (18) for discharging the contents from the bag (12) and / or admitting the contents into the bag (12), the tube (14) having a central part (20) which is arranged between the first end (16) and the second end (18), - a dimensionally stable container (22), wherein the bag (12) is arranged inside the container (22), wherein the hose (14) is designed to be transferable into a first position (24) in which the hose (14) is arranged in the container (22), wherein the hose (14) is designed to be transferable into a second position (26) in which the hose (14) protrudes from the container (22), wherein the device (10) is designed such that a volume flow through the hose (14) can be enabled, prevented and / or varied by changing a cross section of the central part (20). [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the device (10) is arranged such that the cross section of the central part (20) can be changed by rotating the second end (18) of the hose (14) in and / or against a circumferential direction (28). [3] Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat a dimensionally stable, in particular annular or sleeve-shaped, outlet element (30) is arranged at the second end (18) of the hose (14), which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second end (18) of the hose (14). [4] Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the device (10) has a closure element (32) for closing the outlet element (30). [5] Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the closure element (32) is designed to be connectable, closable and / or openable to the outlet element (30) by means of a screw connection. [6] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device (10) has a clamping element (34) by means of which the cross-section of the central part (20) can be changed, in particular by squeezing the central part (20), and / or a rotation of the central part (20) can be fixed. [7] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device (10) is designed as a bag-in-box packaging (36). [8] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the container (22) comprises a dimensionally stable, in particular cuboid-shaped, garage section (38), wherein the garage section (38) is arranged at at least one opening (40) in the container (22), wherein the hose (14) is arranged in the first position (24) within the garage section (38), wherein the hose (14) in the second position (26) protrudes from the garage section (38) and through the opening (40) out of the container (22). [9] Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the garage section (38) and / or the container (22) comprises a lid (42) by means of which the opening (40) can be closed and / or opened. [10] Device (10) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized by that the garage section (38) has a receptacle (44) for receiving the hose (14), in particular the second end (18) of the hose (14) and / or the outlet element (30), in the first position (24).

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