VALVE FOR INJECTING AND/OR EXTRACTING FLUID FOR A WHOLESALE MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR TREATING AND/OR STORING WHOLESALE MERCHANDISE BY MEANS OF SAID VALVE

Abstract

The valve comprises a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8) comprising a flowrate regulator element (9) and a seating (10) for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8), said seating (10) including a surface (10b) adapted to be attached to a portion of an internal bag (4) made of flexible material in the container (1), and is characterised in that it comprises a cover (11) to protect said seating (10) and comprising a hole for access to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8); said cover (11) comprising means (13, 14) for securing a protective wrapping (5) enveloping the internal bag (4) on said seating (10). The container is characterised in that it includes at least one valve (3a, 3b) for the injection and/or extraction of fluid, and in that a portion of said internal bag (4) made of flexible material is attached to the seating (10) of the inlet duct (8) of said valve (3a, 3b) and that a portion of the protective wrapping (5) for said internal bag (4) is held against said seating (10) by the cover (11).

Claims

1.-27. (canceled)

28. A valve for the injection and/or extraction of fluid in a container of goods sold in bulk, comprising a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct provided with a flowrate regulator element and a valve seating for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said valve seating comprising a surface configured for being attached to a portion of an internal liner bag made of at least one sheet of flexible material of the container, wherein said valve comprises a cover for covering said valve seating, said cover being provided with an access hole to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, and said cover including elements for securing a protective wrapping of the internal liner bag on said valve seating.

29. The valve, according to claim 28, wherein said elements for securing the protective wrapping comprise a cover affixing body extending from the lower side of the cover to enter, in the normal-use position, into contact with a portion of the wrapping disposed over the valve seating, said cover affixing body comprising an anchoring element arranged to cooperate with a complementary anchoring element of the valve seating or of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

30. The valve, according to claim 29, wherein said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct is attached to the valve seating in such a way that one extremity of the duct emerges from the upper side of the valve seating, to become disposed in correspondence with the access hole in the cover, the extremity of said duct comprising a ring-shaped flange that acts by way of the complementary anchoring element arranged to cooperate by clipping to the anchoring element of the cover affixing body.

31. The valve, according to claim 28, wherein the cover comprises a portion with a substantially concave profile arranged coaxially to the access hole of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said portion of the cover with a concave profile being configured for adapting to the shape of the container when full.

32. The valve, according to claim 28, comprising a plug for the blocking of the hole in the cover which provides access to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

33. The valve, according to claim 32, wherein said plug is attached to the body of the cover by means of a fastening strap.

34. The valve, according to claim 28, wherein said flowrate regulator element comprises at least one membrane of elastomeric material provided with elements for being removably attached to a wall within the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said membrane being susceptible to block a number of holes in said internal wall in order to prevent the flow of fluid.

35. The valve, according to 34, wherein said membrane is attached to a wall of a supporting core susceptible to be press-fitted into the interior of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

36. The valve, according to claim 28, wherein said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct is configured to receive an interconnection element with a fluid injection and/or extraction device.

37. The valve, according to claim 36, wherein said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct comprises anchoring elements for said interconnection element.

38. The valve, according to claim 37, comprising a detection unit for the detection of the presence of said interconnection element when said interconnection element is coupled to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said detection unit being susceptible to send a halt signal to a processing and control unit governing the fluid extraction and/or injection device when said interconnection element is detached from the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

39. A container for the treatment and/or storage of goods sold in bulk, comprising at least one internal liner bag made of at least one sheet of flexible material, and a protective wrapping for said internal liner bag, wherein it includes at least one fluid injection and/or extraction valve including a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct provided with a flowrate regulator element, a valve seating for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said valve seating comprising a surface configured for being attached to a portion of the internal liner bag, and a cover for covering said valve seating, said cover being provided with an access hole to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, and said cover including elements for securing a protective wrapping of the internal liner bag on said valve seating, and wherein a portion of said internal liner bag made of at least one sheet of flexible material is affixed to the valve seating of the inlet duct of said fluid and/or extraction valve, and a portion of the protective wrapping is clamped between the valve seating and the cover protecting said valve seating.

40. The container according to claim 39, wherein said elements for securing the protective wrapping of the internal liner bag on the valve seating comprise a cover affixing body extending from the lower side of the cover to enter, in the normal-use position, into contact with a portion of the wrapping disposed over the valve seating, said cover affixing body comprising an anchoring element arranged to cooperate with a complementary anchoring element of the valve seating or of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

41. The container according to claim 40, wherein said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct is attached to the valve seating in such a way that one extremity of the duct emerges from the upper side of the valve seating to become disposed in correspondence with the access hole in the cover, the extremity of said duct comprising a ring-shaped flange that acts by way of the complementary anchoring element arranged to cooperate by clipping to the anchoring element of the cover affixing body securing the protective wrapping on the valve seating.

42. The container, according to claim 39, wherein at least one portion of said internal liner bag is welded to a surface of the valve seating disposed coaxially to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct, said portion of the internal liner bag being susceptible to be covered by the cover of the valve seating while the protective wrapping is secured against the valve seating by the securing elements of said cover.

43. The container, according to claim 39, wherein said internal liner bag comprises at least one layer of sheet of flexible material with a permeability configured to maintain the composition of the atmosphere within the container substantially constant during a predetermined time.

44. The container according to claim 39, wherein said internal liner bag comprises at least one layer of sheet of flexible material made of polyethylene and/or at least one sheet of flexible material made of polyamide, either said at least one sheet of polyethylene or said at least one sheet of polyamide being configured to be welded to the valve seating.

45. The container, according to claim 39, wherein said protective wrapping includes at least one layer of fabric made of synthetic or natural fibres.

46. The procedure for the treatment of goods sold in bulk in a container in accordance with claim 39, said container comprising a first one of said fluid and/or extraction valve and a second one of said fluid and/or extraction valve, said process involving the steps of; a) attaching an interconnection element of a fluid injection and/or extraction device to the fluid injection and/or extraction duct of the first fluid and/or extraction valve, or to the cover of said first fluid and/or extraction valve, b) creating a total or partial vacuum within the container, by extracting fluid through said first fluid and/or extraction valve, c) injecting fluid through the same first fluid and/or extraction valve or through the second fluid and/or extraction valve, d) while the injection of fluid is being performed, obtaining a sample of the atmosphere within the container, and analysing in real time the composition of said atmosphere, e) if the composition of the atmosphere within the container is not as predetermined, keeping on injection, otherwise, halting injection.

47. The procedure according to claim 46, wherein the extraction of fluid in step b) is performed via said first fluid and/or extraction valve, and the injection of fluid in step c) is performed via said second fluid and/or extraction valve simultaneously.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054] For the purpose of facilitating the foregoing description, a set of drawings is attached wherein, schematically and solely by way of a non-limitative example, two practical embodiments of the valve and container of the invention are portrayed, wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container for the treatment and/or storage of goods sold in bulk of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a valve of the present invention and of the interconnection element of an injection and/or extraction device or equipment of a container filling or treatment line.

[0057] FIG. 3 portrays a cross-section of a valve of the present invention, with an interconnection element of the aforementioned fluid injection equipment or device attached.

[0058] FIG. 4 portrays an exploded view of the valve in FIG. 2.

[0059] FIGS. 5a and 5b portray two cross-sections of a plug disposed at the external extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct of the valve, in a first and second closed position, respectively.

[0060] FIG. 6 portrays a cross-section of a support and filter disposed at the internal extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct of the valve.

[0061] FIG. 7 portrays a schematic plan view of the valve seating.

[0062] FIG. 8 portrays a cross-section of a second embodiment of the valve of the present invention, attached to the covering and the internal bag made of flexible material of a container for goods sold in bulk, such as that portrayed in FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view portraying the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct of the valve attached to the coaxially-based seating of the embodiment of the valve in FIG. 8, and the final stretch of an interconnection element which attaches to the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct by means of a bayonet-type connection.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lower side of the cover of the valve in FIG. 8, portraying the crown-shaped anchoring element featured on its lower side.

[0065] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the valve in FIG. 8, with an interconnection element of a fluid injection equipment or device attached to the upper extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

[0066] FIG. 12 portrays a perspective view of a cross-section of the embodiment of the valve in FIG. 8, with the plug in the closed position.

[0067] FIG. 13 portrays a complete perspective view of the embodiment of the valve in FIG. 8, with the plug in the closed position.

[0068] FIG. 14 portrays a perspective view of the embodiment of the valve in FIG. 8, with the plug in the open position and the valve cover anchored in the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] A first embodiment of the valve and container of the present invention is described below, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, and further below, a second embodiment of the valve of the same invention is described, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

[0070] FIG. 1 portrays a container 1 for the treatment and/or storage of goods sold in bulk and including a goods fill opening 2a and a goods discharge opening 2b, two valves 3a, 3b for the injection and/or extraction of fluid, located at different points of the container 1. The container 1 in itself features an internal bag 4 made of flexible material and a protective wrapping 5 for the internal bag 4. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the valve 3b located on the body of the covering and distant from the handles 6 of the container 1, includes a stress-preventing ring 7 sewn to the protective wrapping 5, encircling the valve 3b to prevent tearing when the container 1 is handled.

[0071] FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 portray different views of a first embodiment of the valve 3a, 3b claimed, comprising a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 comprising a flowrate regulator element 9 and a seating 10 for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 comprising a coaxial base 10a comprising a surface 10b adapted for its attachment to a portion of the internal bag 4 made of flexible material of the container 1, for example by the welding of the two materials (see FIG. 7).

[0072] In the embodiment described, the seating 10 of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 includes a wall 23 equipped with an orifice 24 for the access of a sample probe (not portrayed) into the container 1. FIG. 7 portrays a plan view of the wall 23 and the orifice 24 through which the aforementioned probe is inserted. The orifice 24 is covered upperly by the internal bag 4 made of flexible material and inferiorly by a plug made of polyurethane rubber or any other elastomeric material configured to block the orifice 24 once the probe is removed.

[0073] In addition to the aforementioned seating 10, the body of the valve 3a, 3b includes a cover 11 to protect said seating 10, comprising an access hole 12 to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8. As may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, this cover 11 features a plurality of projections 13 distributed around the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 on a surface of the coaxial base 10a of the seating 10 which encircles said duct 8. The projections 13 are arranged to cooperate with a number of recesses 14 featured on the internal side of the cover 11, in such a way that said projections 13 may traverse a portion of the protective wrapping 5 to become inserted into the recesses 14, thus securely clamping the protective wrapping 5 between the seating 10 and the cover 11. In the final normal-use position of the valve 3 portrayed in FIG. 2, the cover 11 extends over the seating 10, protecting the join between the internal bag 4 and the seating 10, and at the same time grasping the protective wrapping 5.

[0074] As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 11 of the valve 3a, 3b features a hole 12 for access to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 for the attachment of an interconnection element 16 to the gas or fluid injection and/or extraction device or equipment of a product filling and packaging line. This element 16 is coupled to the upper side of the cover 11 by means of a number of projections 17 which engage in a bayonet-type joint with a number of recesses 18 featured on the cover 11. On completion of the injection or extraction of fluid, a plug 19 is disposed at the upper extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 which emerges from the upper side of the coaxial base 10a and is disposed in correspondence with the access hole 12 of the cover 11.

[0075] The blocking plug 19 comprises on its internal wall a number of grooves 20 which attach to a number of protrusions 21 on the external wall of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8, determining two positions of closure (see FIGS. 5a and 5b). In a first position, portrayed in FIG. 5a, the plug 19 is attached to the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 in a provisionally closed or pre-closed position, preventing the ingress of dust and foreign matter into the container 1 prior to the injection of fluid into or extraction thereof from its interior. In a second closed position, portrayed in FIG. 5b, the same plug 19 is adjustedly inserted into the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 to ensure the airtightness of the atmosphere within the container and the tamper-proof condition of the valve 1.

[0076] FIG. 3 portrays the fluid flowrate regulator element 9 of the valve 3a, 3b which, in the embodiment described, is configured by an elastomeric membrane comprising a stud 22 to be removably inserted into a hole 25 in the transverse wall 26 within the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8. Said transverse wall 26 features a pair of holes 27 for the passage of fluid. In a resting position, the membrane adheres to the transverse wall 26, blocking the passage of fluid.

[0077] In FIG. 3, the membrane has been portrayed attached to the upper side of the transverse wall 26, in such a way that the force of the gas aspirated through the holes 27 raises the membrane in order to enable the egress of the gas aspirated via the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8. FIG. 4 portrays a support 28 that is attachable to the internal extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 which is equipped with a filter 29 that prevents the ingress of material and/or dust into the fluid extraction equipment or device.

[0078] As has been mentioned in the description of the invention, the container 1 claimed comprises an internal bag 4 or liner for the sale of bulk goods, comprising one or several layers or sheets made of flexible material, for example a sheet of polyethylene and/or a sheet of aluminium. At least one of said sheets features a permeability suited to maintain the composition of the atmosphere within the container 1 substantially constant during a predetermined time, subsequent to the injection of the gas and the closure of the valves 3a, 3b. This internal bag 4 or liner is in direct contact with the goods and is attached to a protective wrapping 5 which may also be made of flexible material or of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard.

[0079] FIGS. 8 to 14 portray a second embodiment of the valve of the present invention. In this embodiment, the valve features an affixing body 30 stretching from the lower side of the cover 11 to enter, in the normal-use position, into contact with a portion of the wrapping 5 foreseen over the seating 10 (see FIG. 8). This affixing body 30 features an anchoring element 31a configured in the shape of an anchoring crown arranged to cooperate by clipping with another anchoring element 31b in the form of a ring-shaped flange disposed at the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 of the valve. FIG. 10 is a perspective view portraying the aforementioned crown-shaped anchoring element 31a of the cover 11, while FIG. 9 is another perspective view portraying the complementary ring-shaped anchoring flange foreseen at the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8. In the normal-use position of this second embodiment of the valve, a portion of the protective wrapping 5 of the container is clamped between the affixing body 30 of the cover 11 and the seating 10 of the valve, ensuring an optimal anchoring that furthermore is protected by the body of the cover 11 itself.

[0080] Returning to FIG. 10, this figure portrays the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 of the second embodiment of the valve, incorporating a bayonet-type anchoring means 33 disposed to cooperate with complementary anchoring means 34 foreseen on an interconnection element 16 of a fluid injection and/or extraction device. Thus, in this second embodiment, the interconnection element 16 is locked to an internal element of the valve, ensuring a highly resistant, strong connection (see FIG. 11).

[0081] The body of the cover 11 of the second embodiment of the valve presents the characteristic that it includes a strap 19a for the fastening of the plug 19 that closes the access hole 12, and a coaxial portion with a substantially concave profile (see FIGS. 8 and 10). As may be seen in FIG. 8, the concave profile, in its normal-use position, enables the external edge of the cover 11 to enter into contact with the protective wrapping 5, securing it against the internal bag 4 made of flexible material, contributing to eliminate stresses that might cause tears in the flexible material during the transport of the container 1.

[0082] The second embodiment of the valve includes a part by way of a supporting core 32 for the elastomeric membrane 9 of the valve. As may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 12, this supporting core 32 is an independent part to be press-fitted into the interior of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8, facilitating the positioning of the filter 29 of the valve on an internal flange 35 at the extremity of said duct 8.

[0083] The operation of the container 1 and the valve 3a, 3b claimed is described below.

[0084] As has been mentioned, the goods is packaged beforehand at a conventional filling and packaging line, proceeding with the hermetic sealing of the container 1, for example by means of heat-sealing applied to a number of polyethylene sheets forming part of the internal bag 4 of the container 1.

[0085] Once the container 1 is hermetically sealed with the goods in its interior, one proceeds with the extraction of air from the internal space of the container 1 by means of the air extraction unit of the fluid injection and/or extraction device, attaching for this purpose the interconnection element 16 of the device to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 of one of the valves 3b, through the hole in the cover 11. Aspiration is performed through this valve 3b until a certain level of vacuum is achieved. The extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 incorporates the filter 29 in order to filter the air extracted and to eliminate the dust particles it may contain.

[0086] Next, or simultaneously, while maintaining the interconnection element 16 of the injection device coupled to the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8 of another valve 3a, gas or any other fluid is injected into the internal space of the container 1.

[0087] Both the injection of gas and the extraction of air are carried out under the supervision of a processing and control unit which receives information from an in-line analysis unit about the internal atmosphere of the container 1. This analysis is carried out on a sample of gas obtained directly through one of the two valves 3a, 3b, by means of the insertion of a probe (not portrayed). This probe may be disposed at the interconnection element 16 of the injection device or be a part of an independent measuring device. Once the processing and control unit verifies that the concentration of the atmosphere is as desired, injection is halted and the valves 3a, 3b are closed.

[0088] In accordance with the second embodiment of the valve, wherein the interconnection element 16 of the injection device is coupled to the extremity of the fluid inlet and/or outlet duct 8, it is possible to foresee a detection means (not portrayed) on the body of the cover 11 disposed to detect the presence of said interconnection element 16. These detection means may be configured to send a halt signal to a processing and control unit of the injection device when the interconnection element 16 is detached from the duct 8. Thus, the treatment of the goods may be carried out in complete safety for the user.

[0089] In spite of the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the valve and container described are susceptible to multiple variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned may be replaced by other technically equivalent details without straying from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims. For example, although the embodiment described and portrayed in the figures relates to a container comprising a protective wrapping and formed by a sheet of flexible material, the valve claimed could also be applied to a container with a protective wrapping of cardboard, which would likewise be clamped between the cover and the valve seating. However, in the first embodiment of the valve, the projections and recesses of the cover and the seating would have to be of greater length in order to traverse a sheet of cardboard with a thickness of between 7 and 12 mm.