PREFORM ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCING A CONTAINER

Abstract

A preform assembly for producing a container includes an external preform and an internal preform, each configured to form respectively an external drum and an internal bag of the container. The internal preform can be internally associated with the external preform along a central longitudinal axis so as to define a hollow space with the external preform.

Claims

1. A preform assembly for producing a container comprising an external preform and an internal preform, each configured to form respectively an external drum and an internal bag of said container, said internal preform being internally associable with said external preform along a central longitudinal axis so as to define a hollow space with said external preform, characterized in that at least one of either said external preform or said internal preform comprises a plurality of grooves made recessed in a respective surface facing said hollow space, wherein said one or more grooves extend at least partly in a longitudinal direction of said assembly, defining preferential channels.

2. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said external preform and said internal preform each comprise a neck portion and a containing portion, and said one or more grooves extend from said neck portion toward a closed end of said preform.

3. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend below respective coupling members of said preforms.

4. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend for a length equal to at least 15% of the overall height of the respective preform.

5. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend in a direction substantially parallel to said central longitudinal axis, equally distanced from each other.

6. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said grooves have a depth comprised between about 5% and about 15% of the thickness of said preform on which they are made.

7. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one or more grooves have a length comprised between 10 and 20 times a width thereof.

8. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one or more grooves have a width in the direction transverse to said central longitudinal axis comprised between 2 and 5 mm.

9. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein on one of said preforms there are said grooves, disposed parallel to said central longitudinal axis, and on the other preform there are disposed one or more spacer elements protruding from the respective surface and provided with hollows defining passage channels.

10. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one or more grooves are hollowed in an internal surface of said external preform.

11. The preform assembly as in claim 10, wherein said internal preform comprises a plurality of spacer elements disposed transversely to said axis.

12. The preform assembly as in claim 2, wherein the neck portion of said external preform comprises a shoulder configured to act as a support for the neck portion of said internal preform, wherein the upper edge of said shoulder is discontinuous and has an alternation of hollows and protrusions, and there is a plurality of said grooves each extending from said upper edge in correspondence with a respective hollow or protrusion toward said closed end.

13. The preform assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one or more grooves are hollowed in an external surface of said internal preform.

14. A container comprising an external drum and an internal bag which is internally associated with said external drum, said drum and said bag being obtained from respective preforms as in claim 1 and defining a hollow space between them, wherein preferential channels for the passage of a fluid are provided in said hollow space which extend below a neck portion of said container, which are defined by grooves made in at least one of the respective facing surfaces of the external drum or of the internal bag.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section view of a preform assembly in accordance with some embodiments described here;

[0055] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal section view of an external preform according to some embodiments described herein;

[0056] FIG. 3 is a view along section line II-II in FIG. 2;

[0057] FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of an internal preform according to some variants described here;

[0058] FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view of an internal preform according to one variant of the invention;

[0059] FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view of an internal preform according to another variant of the invention;

[0060] FIG. 7 is a view along section line VII-VII of FIG. 5;

[0061] FIG. 8 is a view along section line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1;

[0062] FIG. 9 is a schematic section view of a container made with a preform assembly according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the upper part of a container made with a preform assembly according to the invention.

[0064] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0065] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0066] The embodiments described here with reference to FIG. 1 concern a preform assembly 10 for producing a container 110. The assembly 10 comprises an external preform 11 and an internal preform 12, wherein the internal preform 12 is internally associated with the external preform 11 in such a way that a hollow space 13 is defined between them. In other words, the two preforms 11, 12 have their respective surfaces facing each other and distanced from each other.

[0067] The two preforms 11, 12, by means of a blow molding process, generate respectively an external drum 111, which has structural functions and the function of supporting the container 110, and an internal bag 112, suitable to contain a liquid, for example a beverage (FIGS. 9-10).

[0068] The internal bag 112 and the external drum 111 are separated by a hollow space 113, into which, when the beverage is delivered, there is injected a pressurized fluid, such as air or carbon dioxide, thanks to which it is possible to cause the compression of the internal bag 112 and cause the dispensing of the liquid.

[0069] The internal bag 112 is configured to contain the liquid and is preferably flexible and compressible, while the external drum 111 is not very deformable and is configured to act as a support for the container 110 and as a contrast for the pressurized fluid that is injected into the hollow space 113.

[0070] According to some embodiments, the external preform 11 and/or the internal preform 12 can be made of polymer material, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET). According to some embodiments, at least the internal preform 12 can be made of PET modified with additives that increase its barrier properties in order to preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the liquid that has to be contained in the internal bag 112, in particular in the case of a beverage.

[0071] In accordance with some embodiments, the preforms 11, 12 each have a tubular shape, provided with a closed end 11a, 12a and having an aperture 21, 22 at the opposite end 11b, 12b.

[0072] The preforms 11, 12 have a neck portion 14, 15 in the proximity of the respective aperture 21, 22 and a containing portion 16, 17 which extends below the neck portion 14, 15 and ends in the closed end 11a, 12a.

[0073] The container 110, obtained by blow molding the preform assembly 10, comprises a neck portion 114 defined by the neck portions 14, 15 of the preforms 11, 12, which is provided with an aperture 122, and a containing portion 116 defined by the respective containing portions 16, 17 of the preforms 11, 12.

[0074] During the blow molding step, the containing portions 16, 17 are intended to expand, considerably increasing their volume, while the neck portions 14, 15 remain substantially unchanged, maintaining their shape and structure substantially unaltered.

[0075] In particular, the transition zones T between the neck portion 14, 15 and the respective containing portion 16, 17 are those most subjected to the risk of deformations during the blow molding step, in which unwanted adhesions may occur between the external preform 11 and the internal preform 12.

[0076] The internal preform 12 is shaped in such a way that it can be inserted into the external preform 11 through the first aperture 21.

[0077] According to some embodiments, the neck portion 15 of the internal preform 12 has a size and a profile which are suitable to cooperate with the profile of the external preform 11 in such a way as to obtain a correct reciprocal positioning.

[0078] In accordance with some embodiments, the external preform 11 can have a first external thickness S1 greater than a second internal thickness S2 of the internal preform 12, so as to make the container 110 more robust and resistant to accidental impacts.

[0079] According to some embodiments, the external thickness S1 can be comprised between about 6 mm and about 9 mm. In this way, after the blow molding operation, it is possible to obtain an external drum 111 that has a final wall thickness sufficient to give it a determinate rigidity.

[0080] According to further embodiments, the internal thickness S2 can be comprised between about 2 mm and about 5 mm. In this way, after the blow molding operation, it is possible to obtain an internal bag 112 having a thickness such as to make it easily compressible and deformable.

[0081] According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the external 11 and internal 12 preforms have a constant thickness S1, S2 along their entire development.

[0082] According to possible variants, it can be provided that the thickness S1, S2 of the external 11 and internal 12 preforms is variable and differentiated between, for example, the containing portion 16, 17 and the neck portion 14, 15.

[0083] According to some embodiments, the external preform 11 comprises, on the external surface of the neck portion 14, a threaded circumferential area 18 suitable to couple to a closure element 120, for example a screw cap provided with a mating thread.

[0084] In accordance with some embodiments, the neck portion 14 of the external preform 11 cooperates with the neck portion 15 of the internal preform 12 to define a stable coupling between the two preforms 11, 12, keeping them substantially coaxial with each other and aligned along the central axis X.

[0085] According to some embodiments, the preforms 11, 12 can comprise respective coupling members 19, 20, 23, 24, 31 suitable to define a stable reciprocal coupling and positioning.

[0086] According to some embodiments, the internal preform 12 can comprise, in correspondence with or in the proximity of the aperture 22, an annular portion 19 protruding in a radial direction, which is configured to be positioned resting on the upper edge of the external preform 11 and to close the hollow space 13 at the upper part.

[0087] According to some embodiments, the two preforms 11, 12 are configured in such a way as to be located in reciprocal contact only in defined abutment zones, in particular in correspondence with the respective upper edges. The surface of the internal preform 12 below the abutment zones is distanced from the external preform 11 by means of the hollow space 13.

[0088] According to some embodiments, the neck portion 14 of the external preform 11 has an upper portion 20 having a diameter slightly larger than the containing portion 16 and defining a housing compartment 23 for the neck portion 15 of the internal preform 12.

[0089] The housing compartment 23 is delimited at the lower part by a stepped shoulder 24 configured to provide an abutment for a protrusion 31 of the neck portion 15 of the internal preform 11.

[0090] According to some embodiments, the protrusion 31 can have an annular shape, extending over the entire circumference of the internal preform 12. In this case, the protrusion 31 can have a plurality of hollows or grooves 36 through which, during use, a fluid can pass.

[0091] According to one aspect of the present invention, on at least one of the external 11 or internal 12 preforms there are grooves 25, that is, hollows, cavities, made on the respective surface of the preform 11, 12 facing toward the hollow space 13.

[0092] In other words, at least one of either the internal surface 27 of the external preform 11 or the external surface 28 of the internal preform 12 is grooved.

[0093] These grooves 25 define preferential passage channels 26 for the fluid. In fact, in correspondence with these grooves 25, the hollow space 13 between the two preforms 11, 12 has a greater depth than the zones around them.

[0094] Since these channels 26 remain present even after the step of blow molding the assembly 10, in this way unwanted adhesions between the internal bag 112 and the external drum 111 are advantageously prevented.

[0095] According to some embodiments, a plurality of grooves 25 is provided, distanced from each other around the central axis X.

[0096] According to some embodiments, 3 or more grooves 25 can be provided, for example a number comprised between 3 and 12, preferably equally distanced from each other.

[0097] By way of example, FIGS. 3 and 4 show ten grooves 25, while FIGS. 1 and 9 show six and eight grooves 25 respectively.

[0098] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 all have the same length, that is, the same longitudinal extension.

[0099] According to possible variants, it can be provided that at least one groove 25 has a different length to the others, that is, it is longer or shorter.

[0100] According to other variants, long grooves 25 and short grooves 25 can be provided disposed in alternation. In this way, after the blow molding, there come to be defined preferential channels 26 with different lengths in the container 110, which allow to distribute the fluid in the hollow space 113 more uniformly.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 can be vertical, that is, they can extend in a direction parallel to the axis X.

[0102] According to possible variants, the grooves 25 can be at least partly inclined with respect to the axis X.

[0103] According to other variants, the grooves 25 can have a helical shape.

[0104] The grooves 25 can have a constant section along their extension.

[0105] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 can have a trapezoidal, square or rectangular cross section, with possible rounded edges, or even a substantially semicircular shape or the shape of an arc of circumference.

[0106] The trapezoidal, square, or rectangular shape, however, allows to obtain a better definition of the channels 26 following the blow molding process.

[0107] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 extend below the respective neck portion 14, 15 toward the closed end 11a, 12a.

[0108] Preferably, the grooves 25 are positioned below the respective coupling members 19, 20, 23, 24, 31 of the two preforms.

[0109] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 extend at least for a height equal to, or greater than, 15% of the overall height of the preform 12, 14, for example for a segment comprised between 15% and 50% of the overall height.

[0110] In particular, it can be provided that the grooves 25 extend at least for a segment corresponding to the transition zone T between the respective neck portion 14, 15 and the respective containing portion 16, 17.

[0111] By transition zone T we mean the portion of the preform 11, 12 that is most subjected to deformations during the blow molding process, which is intended to form the upper part of the container 110. In particular, it is possible to consider as the transition zone T the zone that connects the neck portion 114 of the container 110, which is substantially cylindrical and has a smaller diameter D1 substantially corresponding to that of the starting preform 11, 12, with the cylindrical part of the containing portion 116, which has a larger diameter D2.

[0112] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 can have a depth D comprised between about 5% and about 15% of the thickness S1, S2 of the portion of the respective preform 11, 12, in particular of the thickness S1, S2 in correspondence with the containing portion 16, 17.

[0113] Preferably, the grooves 25 have a depth D comprised between about 7% and 12% of the average thickness S1, S2 of the preform 11, 12.

[0114] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 have an elongated shape, with a longitudinal extension greater than the transverse extension, for example they can have a length L comprised between 10 and 20 times their width W.

[0115] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 have a width W comprised between 2 and 5 mm.

[0116] Preferably, the width W is comprised between 2.5 and 4 mm.

[0117] According to some embodiments, the grooves 25 have a width W greater than the respective depth D, for example comprised between about 2 and 4 times the depth D.

[0118] According to some embodiments, for example described with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the grooves 25 are hollowed in an internal surface 27 of the external preform 11.

[0119] This solution is particularly advantageous in that it allows to obtain an excellent compromise between the requirements of creating channels 26 having a determinate width to guarantee a correct passage of the fluid, and those of maintaining a thickness sufficient to guarantee the required structural properties.

[0120] By way of example, it can be provided that the external preform 11 has a thickness S1 of about 7 mm and that the grooves 25 hollowed therein have a depth of about 1 mm.

[0121] According to other variants, for example described with reference to FIG. 4, it can be provided that the grooves 25 are hollowed in an external surface 28 of the internal preform 12.

[0122] According to further embodiments, which can be combined with the previous ones, it can be provided that respective grooves 25 are present on both preforms 11, 12.

[0123] According to some embodiments, at least the shoulder 24 provided on the external preform 11 can have a discontinuous development, with respective rises 32 alternating with hollowed portions 33.

[0124] According to this embodiment, it can be provided that the internal preform 12 also has a mating shape to couple in a suitable way to the external preform 11.

[0125] A respective groove 25 can be provided in correspondence with each rise 32 and/or hollowed portion 33.

[0126] In this way, in the event that respective grooves 25 are provided on each of the preforms 11, 12, it is possible to position them in a simple way, one facing the other, increasing the section of the passage channels 26.

[0127] According to other embodiments, it can be provided that on one of the preforms 11 or 12 there is a plurality of grooves 25 disposed parallel to the central axis X, and that on the other preform 11, 12 there is a spacer element 29 which protrudes from the respective surface 27, 28 facing the hollow space 13. The spacer element 29 allows to guarantee a greater separation between the preforms 11, 12.

[0128] According to some embodiments, the spacer element 29 can extend in a transverse direction, that is, parallel (FIG. 5) or partly inclined with respect to the central axis X, or it can have a helical shape (FIG. 6).

[0129] Hollows 34 can be made in the spacer element 29 that extend parallel to the central axis X, or inclined with respect thereto, in order to create additional passage channels 35 toward the hollow space 13. The at least one spacer element 29 can be disposed in the proximity of the respective neck portion 14, 15.

[0130] According to some embodiments, the one or each spacer element 29 has a tapered shape toward its external end and the hollows 34 have a flared shape such as to give the channel 35 high stability and reinforcement.

[0131] By way of example, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which there is a plurality of grooves 25 on the external preform 11 and there are three spacer elements 29 on the internal preform 12.

[0132] According to other embodiments, it can also be provided that the grooves 25 are present on both the external 11 and internal 12 preforms, hollowed on the respective facing surfaces 27, 28. This solution, for example, can be obtained by combining the external preform 11 of FIG. 1 with the internal preform 12 of FIG. 4 in an assembly 10.

[0133] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 5-7, the external preform 11 comprises a plurality of grooves 25 which extend substantially in a vertical direction parallel to the central axis X and are recessed with respect to their internal surface 27, while the internal preform 12 has a plurality of spacer elements 29 disposed transversely with respect to the central axis X, which extend from their external surface 28. In this case, the hollows 34 can extend substantially parallel to the central axis X.

[0134] The spacer element 29 has a radial size substantially corresponding to the width of the hollow space 13, so that when the internal preform 12 is inserted in the external preform 11, the spacer element 29 is positioned with its outermost end in contact with the opposite surface 27, 28 of the respective external 12 or internal 11 preform, so as to guarantee a correct reciprocal positioning of the two preforms 11, 12.

[0135] According to other embodiments, there is at least one through hole 30 in the neck portion 15 of the internal preform 12 which connects the hollow space 13 with the aperture 22.

[0136] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the preform assembly 10 and to the container 110 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0137] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.