[0001] The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to containers for fluent
material, for example liquids or fluent particulate materials, and apparatus for filling
them. It refers especially to flexible plastics material bags.
[0002] It is well known to transport relatively small quantities of wine, for example 5
litres, in metalised plastics bags which are fitted with a discharge valve and normally
contained in a corrugated board container through which the valve can project so that
the contents of the bag can be discharged.
[0003] Also known are collapsable containers adapted for mounting on a pallet into which
can be placed plastics material bags containing up to a tonne of fluent material.
In the past, bags for use in such pallets have been filled through an opening in the
top of the bag and discharged through an opening in the side of the bag adjacent to
its base. Such bags have exhibited certain disadvantages, for example they have not
been particularly suitable for use with viscous materials nor has it been possible,
when contaminable material has to be contained in the bag, to readily employ an aseptic
filling process.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to obviate and mitigate these disadvantages.
[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a member for providing an opening
in a plastics material bag, comprising a first portion to which the bag can be attached
and a second portion defining an opening leading to a passage through the member,
said first portion being manufactured from a plastics material which can be readily
attached to the material of the bag while at least the region of the other portion
surrounding the opening is manufactured from a material having a higher melting point
than that of the first portion.
[0006] Preferably the member is manufactured by injection moulding. In the injection moulding
process said high temperature portion may be preformed and placed in the mould prior
to the moulding operation so that the remainder of the member can be moulded onto
the preformed portion.
[0007] Preferably the member has a cylindrical body having a cylindrical passage therethrough,
the first portion having a flange projecting from one end of the member. The member
may be provided with other flanges longitudinally spaced from said first flange, the
other flanges having a lesser diameter than the first flange.
[0008] Preferably the body of the member between two of said additional flanges is provided
with flats such that by engaging said flats by a fixed member, the opening member
can be retained against rotation.
[0009] Preferably the inlet to the member is internally threaded.
[0010] Preferably a threaded closure is provided to close off the opening. The closure may
have a cylindrical recess in its outer face with at least two protrusions projecting
into said recess to assist in removal of the closure.
[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container
for fluent material comprising a rigid outer case, a flexible lining bag, an opening
member in said bag for allowing material to flow into and out of said bag, said rigid
casing having an opening through one its sides adjacent to its base through which
said opening member may project.
[0012] Preferably the rigid container is mounted on a pallet. Preferably the rigid container
is collapsible and comprises a frame work supporting sheet-like side and top walls.
[0013] Further according to the present invention there is provided apparatus for filling
a bag including a nozzle which can be attached to an opening member of a container
to be filled, the nozzle incorporating a plurality of inlet ports for sterilising
fluid, at least one discharge port for said sterilising fluid, an inlet passage for
material to be introduced into the container and valve means for selectively opening
and closing said inlet ports drain means and material inlet passage.
[0014] Preferably the nozzle includes an arrangement for removing and repositioning a closure
for the opening member.
[0015] Preferably said sterilising fluid inlet ports are adapted to direct sterilising fluid
on said opening member as the nozzle is fitted thereto, said closure as it is fitted
to the opening member, the interior of the nozzle prior to and after the passage of
material therethrough and said arrangement for removing and replacing the closure.
[0016] An embodiment of the present inventions will now be described by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Fig. 1 is a front view of an opening member for a flexible plastics material bag,
Fig. 2 is an end view of the member,
Fig. 3 is a front view of a closure for the member of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 a sectional elevations of the closure,
Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a container capable of carrying a bag fitted with the
opening member illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and
Figs. 6 to 9 show a nozzle for filling a bag within the container of Fig. 5.
[0017] A container for carrying fluent materials as shown in Fig. 5 comprises a base formed
by a pallet 10 which has fitted thereto a collapsible framework 12 supporting four
upstanding side walls 14 and a top 16, the pallet, sides and top enclosing a flexible
plastics material bag for carrying a liquid or particulate fluent material.
[0018] The front wall 14 has an opening therein, normally closed off by a sliding door 18,
the opening giving access to an opening member fitted to the internal lining bag and
being held against rotation and outward and inward movement in the side wall 14.
[0019] One form of opening member is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 comprises a cylindrical
body 22 having a 76 mm (3 inch) diameter cylindrical passage 24 therethrough. A flange
26 is provided at the rear of the member and is adapted to be affixed in an opening
in the lining bag in a fluid-tight manner, for example by welding. Two further flanges
28 and 30 are provided on the body spaced from each other and from the flange 26.
The external cross-section of the body between the flanges 26 and 28 is substantially
square, as can be seen from the chain line 32 shown in Fig. 1. This enables the member
to be slid into a keyhole slot formed in the side wall 14 and held there without rotation
the thickness of the side wall 14 being substantially equal to the spacing between
the flanges 26 and 28 so that the member is also held against inward and outward movement
relative to the side panel. The end of the passage 24 remote from the flange 26 is
internally threaded.
[0020] A modified form of inlet member is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 and in these Figures
components corresponding to the components shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been given
the same reference numerals. It will be appreciated that in overall configuration
the member of Fig. 6 to 9 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 but as illustrated in
Fig. 6 it comprises two portions, an inner portion 36 and an outer portion 38. As
will be described in greater detail the container is suitable for an aseptic filling
process in operation which certain areas of the opening member are sterilised by superheated
steam. Those areas of the member are located on the outer portion 38 and consequently
the material of the outer portion must be capable of withstanding a relatively high
temperature. On the other hand, the bag is usually manufactured from polyethelene
and, as mentioned above, the flange 26 is heat sealed to the bag, consequently the
flange 26 must be of polyethelene or a material which can be readily welded to the
bag. Such materials have relatively low melting or softening points, that is below
the temperature of the superheated steam utilised for sterilisation. As a result the
portions 36 and 38 must be of different materials.
[0021] According to an aspect of the present invention the opening member is manufactured
from two materials by injection moulding, the first outer portion being preformed
from a relatively high temperature material and positioned, preformed, in the mould
of the injection moulding machine in which the inner portion 36 is moulded. In one
embodiment the material of the outer portion is chosen such that during the moulding
operation the inner and outer portions are permanently joined together.
[0022] When the bag has been filled the inlet member is closed off by a closure 42 as shown
in Figs. 3 and 4 which is threadably mountable in the outer end of the opening member
by interengagement of an external thread 40 on the closure member 42 with the internal
threads 34 in the passage through the opening member.
[0023] The closure 42 is substantially cylindrical and has a cylindrical recess 44 in its
outer face, two diametricaly opposed protrusions 46 being provided in the recess.
The closure has a peripheral groove 48 to accomodate a sealing O-ring 50.
[0024] Where the material to be stored in the bag is susceptible to contamination it is
a requirement that the bag is filled and maintained under aseptic conditions and the
filling nozzle illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 is suitable for carrying out an aseptic
filling operation.
[0025] Before a bag placed in the container, its opening member and closure is irradiated
to ensure its sterility. The bag is folded in such a manner that as material is introduced
through the opening member into the bag it unfolds without any creases being retained
therein. Such an arrangement does away with the need for an additional opening in
the top of the bag.
[0026] As described above the irradiated bag is fitted into the container and by opening
the door 18 in the front wall 14 the opening member can be fitted into the keyhole
slot formed in the wall 14 with the wall sandwiched between the flanges 26, 28 or
the peripheral recess 29 shown in the modification of Figs. 6 to 9. At this stage
the interior of the bag is sterile but the exterior of the bag may not be and it is
a requirement that those parts of the inlet member which will come into contact with
material to be filled into the bag during the filling process should be sterile prior
to and during filling operation.
[0027] The nozzle shown in Figs. 6 to 9 fulfils this requirement and Fig. 6 shows the nozzle
fitted to an opening member with its closure is still fitted.
[0028] The nozzle comprises a substantially cylindrical body having cylindrical internal
chamber 52 teminating in a forward circular cross-section opening 54, the internal
diameter of which is substantially equal to the external diameter of the outer portion
38 of the opening member. A product inlet passage 56, provided with a shut off valve
(not shown) leads into the chamber 52 adjacent to its outer end 54 and a drain 58
also fitted with a shut off valve (not shown), is provided diametrically opposite
the material inlet 56. The body 50 is provided with a plurality of inlet ports for
sterilising steam port.
[0029] The outer end of the chamber 52 is closed off by an end member 60 through which passes
a rotatable spindle 62 carrying a closure engaging and removing arrangement 64. The
arrangement 64 can move axially and can be rotated.
[0030] Prior to a filling operation the nozzle, before being offered up to the opening member,
has superheated steam supplied to the inlet port 66 at its forward end, the port 66
being located between two sealing rings 70, 72 and communicating with an annular recess
68 in the wall of the chamber 52. It will be realised therefore that as the nozzle
is placed over the inlet to the opening member superheated steam will sterilise the
outer faces of the closure member and the mouth opening member. Superheated steam
will also be fed to an inlet port 74 adjacent to the inlet to the material passage
56. At this stage the shut off valve for the material inlet passage 56 is closed so
that steam passes through the material inlet passage 56, the nozzle chamber 52 and
out of steam drain 58, thereby sterilising the interior of the chamber and the opening
member and closure. This sterilising action can be assisted by the introduction of
superheated steam through the inlet port 76 which performs a further function which
will be described in detail below.
[0031] After sterilisation of the interior of the nozzle has been assured the arrangement
64 can be advanced towards the closure 42. It is ensured that this action produces
no contamination by introducing superheated sterilising steam through parts 78, 80.
The arrangement 64 is advanced until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 7 at which
stage the rod 62 can be rotated in the appropriate direction to engage the protrusion
46 and cause the closure to be unscrewed from the opening member. The arrangement
64 can then be withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 8.
[0032] It will be realised that the supply of sterilising steam to ports 76 and 74 (but
not to port 66) is now terminated and the shut off valve in the drain 58 closed off.
The shut off valve of the material inlet passage 56 can then be opened allowing material
to flow into the sterilised chamber and the sterile interior of the bag within the
container. This operation continues until a metred quantity of material has been introduced
in to the bag at which stage the shut off valve in the inlet 56 is closed and arrangement
64 advanced to bring the closure 42 to a position where its threads 40 are just about
engaging the internal threads 34 of the opening member. At this stage superheated
steam is supplied through the port 76 to clean product from the external surfaces
of the closure member. Simultaneously port 74 can be supplied with steam and the drain
58 can be reopened thereby clearing all material from the inlet 56, the chamber 52
and the closure 42. The rod 62 can then be rotated to engage the closure in the opening
member, the closure eventually sealing off the opening member. The fingers 82 of the
arrangement will then be disengaged from the protrusions 46 by slightly rotating the
rod 62 in a closure opening direction and withdrawing it towards the closure end 60
of the nozzle which can then be removed.
[0033] Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, in so far as the opening member is concerned, any configurations of flanges,
internal or externally threaded closure shapes etc. can be provided.
[0034] It is desirable however, that if aseptic filling is called for, the opening member
comprises two portions fixed to each other with the outer portion having a higher
melting or softening point such that it can withstand the temperature of sterilising
steam. Of course it should be realised that sterilising steam need not be the only
fluid utilised for sterilisation as is possible that a room temperature sterilising
fluid giving a chemical sterilising affect could be used.
[0035] The nozzle can take many different configurations but it is important that it is
provided with means for sterilising those parts of the opening member prior to and
during a fitting operation.
In a further modification the two portions of the opening member need not be permanently
fixed together, one could be attached to the other in a rotatable but fluid-tight
manner. If the portions are fixed to each other this fixing may be acheived by bonding
one plastics material to the other or by designing the configuration of the portions
so that permanent fluid tight fixing is achieved.
1. A member for providing an opening in a plastics material bag, comprising a first
portion to which the bag can be attached and a second portion defining an opening
leading to a passage through the member, said first portion being manufactured from
a plastics material which can be readily attached to the material of the bag while
at least the region of the other portion surrounding the opening is manufactured from
a material having a higher melting point that that of the first portion.
2. A member as claimed in Claim 1, manufactured by injection moulding.
3. A member as claimed in Claim 2, in which in the injection moulding process said
high temperature portion is preformed and placed in the mould prior to the moulding
operation so that the remainder of the member can be moulded onto the preformed portion.
4. A member as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, including a cylindrical body having
a cylindrical passage therethrough, the first portion having a flange projecting from
one end of the member.
5. A member as claimed in Claim 4, provided with other flanges longitudinally spaced
from said first flange, the other flanges having a lesser diameter than the first
flange.
6. A member as claimed in Claim 5, in which the body between two of said additional
flanges is provided with flats such that by engaging said flats by a fixed member,
the member can be retained against rotation.
7. A member as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the inlet to the member
is internally threaded.
8. A member as claimed in Claim 7, in which a threaded closure is provided to close
off the opening.
9. A member as claimed in Claim 8, in which the closure has a cylindrical recess in
its outer face with at least two protrusions projecting into said recess to assist
in removal of the closure.
10. A container for fluent material comprising a rigid outer case, a flexible lining
bag, an opening member in said bag for allowing material to flow into and out of said
bag, said rigid casing having an opening through one of its sides adjacent to its
base through which said opening member may project.
11. A container as claimed in Claim 10, mounted on a pallet.
12. A container as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 which is collapsible and comprises
a framework supporting sheet-like side and top walls.
13. Apparatus for filling a bag including a nozzle which can be attached to an opening
member of a bag to be filled, the nozzle incorporating a plurality of inlet ports
for sterilising fluid, at least one discharge port for said sterilising fluid, an
inlet passage for material to be introduced into the container and valve means for
selectively opening and closing said inlet ports, drain means and material inlet passage.
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, in which the nozzle includes an arrangement
for removing and repositioning a closure for the opening member.
15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, in which said sterilising fluid
inlet ports are adapted to direct sterilising fluid on said opening member as the
nozzle is fitted thereto, said closure as it is fitted to the opening member, the
interior of the nozzle prior to and after the passage of material therethrough and
said arrangement for removing and replacing the closure.