Apparatus for the emptying of containers

Abstract

An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers, with a first holding device for holding a first region of a container and with a second holding device for holding a second region of the container, wherein this second region is arranged at a distance from the first region, with a removal device for removing liquid from the container and with a drive device which moves the second holding device in a pre-set direction of movement (L) with respect to the first holding device. The removal device is arranged on the apparatus in a removable manner and at least one element of the removal device is designed in the form of a one-way element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers, with a first holding device for holding a first region of a container and with a second holding device for holding a second region of the container, wherein the second region is arranged at a distance from the first region, with a removal device for removing liquid from the container and with a drive device which moves the second holding device in a pre-set direction of movement (L) with respect to the first holding device, wherein the removal device is arranged on the apparatus in a removable manner and has at least one single-use component, wherein the at least one single-use component of the removal device is designed and intended to be used only once, wherein the removal device has a flow connection body, wherein the flow connection body is designed in the form of a piercing device, which in order to produce the flow connection with the interior of the container, pierces a closure or at least a wall of the container, wherein the closure is a cap, said cap having a peripheral wall surrounding a mouth opening of the container aligned with a longitudinal axis of the container.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only one flow connection is present between the interior of the container and an external space of the container during the removal of the liquid from the container.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removal device has a flexible hose element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flow connection body projects at least locally into the container in order to remove the liquid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flexible hose element is attached to the flow connection body.

6. A system for the removal of liquids from containers with an apparatus for the removal of liquids, which has a first holding device for holding a first region of a container, and a second holding device for holding a second region of the container, wherein the second region is arranged at a distance from the first region, and with a removal device for removing liquid from the container, wherein the container has a closure to which a tubular body for the removal of liquid is attached in the interior of the container, wherein the closure is a cap, said cap having a peripheral wall surrounding a mouth opening of the container aligned with a longitudinal axis of the container.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the removal device is arranged on the apparatus in a removable manner and at least one element of the removal device is a single-use element.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the removal device has a flow connection body which is capable of being inserted into the tubular body.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flow connection body has a tubular cutting element with at least one oblique cutting edge.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cutting edge is used for piercing a sealing closure which is arranged on a recess of the closure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the recess receives the flow connection body or the cutting element, respectively, with a precise fit.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the recess has an abutment face against which the cutting element, having the cutting edge, rests.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein the closure has a valve.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the valve is opened by movement of the removal device, wherein movement of the removal device further comprises an insertion or introduction, respectively, of the removal device or a flow connection body, respectively.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the container is closed by the valve with an inserted seal, and wherein the container is capable of being filled using the valve.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the valve is automatically pulled upwards to be closed.

17. The system according to claim 6, wherein the container further comprises at least one external thread onto which the closure is screwed.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the closure is screwed via a peripheral wall onto the at least one external thread.

19. The system according to claim 6, wherein the container is a collapsible container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and embodiments are evident from the accompanying drawings. In the drawings

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a to 2c are three illustrations of an apparatus according to the invention in a first embodiment;

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3e are five illustrations of an apparatus according to the invention in a second embodiment;

(5) FIGS. 4a to 4d are four illustrations of an apparatus according to the invention in a third embodiment;

(6) FIGS. 5a, 5b are two illustrations of an apparatus according to the invention in a fourth embodiment, and

(7) FIG. 6 is an illustration of a closure with a valve device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention for the removal of liquid from a container 10 in a diagrammatic illustration. In this case the apparatus has a first holding device 2 here which is used for holding a first region 10a of the container. This first region 10a of the container is in this case a base region.

(9) In addition, a second holding device 4 is provided which receives a second region of the container, in this case in particular an aperture region of the container which also contains the aperture, by way of which the liquid can be removed from the container. In addition, the apparatus has a drive device (not shown in detail) which moves the first holding device with respect to the second holding device in the longitudinal direction L of the container. The reference number 12 designates the removal device, by means of which liquid can be removed from the container.

(10) FIGS. 2a to 2c show a first embodiment of a removal device 12 according to the invention. In this case this removal device 12 has a flow connection body 122 which produces a flow connection between a hose 124 and the interior of the container. The removal device is produced from a plastics material which has a greater degree of strength than the closure material. In this embodiment the removal device is produced from POM (polyoxymethylene) which has a greater degree of strength than a closure of PP (polypropylene) for example.

(11) This flow connection body 122 has in this case a cutting element 126 which is designed in a tubular manner and which has an oblique cutting edge 125. This cutting edge 125 is used for piercing a sealing closure 106 which is arranged on a recess 108 of a container closure 100. In this case this recess 108 is designed in such a way that it receives the flow connection body 122 or the cutting element 126 respectively with a precise fit.

(12) FIG. 2b shows a situation in which the flow connection body 122 has been inserted into the closure 100. In this case the cutting edge 125 has pierced the closure or the seal 106 respectively. In this case, however, the seal 106 is not completely severed by the oblique design of the cutting edge 125 but remains suspended in a region on the closure, so that it does not drop into the liquid.

(13) FIG. 2c is a further illustration of the removal device 12. In this case a disc-shaped cover element 132 which likewise rests against the closure during the insertion of the flow connection body 122 is also shown. This cover element 132 also acts in this case as a stop against which the container 10 is brought and against which it rests during the removal of the liquid from the container. The reference number 128 designates a connecting device with which the hose element 124 is arranged on the flow connection body 122. The cover element 132 can in turn be supported with respect to the second holding device 4 (not shown).

(14) FIGS. 3a to 3e show a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, in which case, however, the container 10 with the first region 10a and the second region 10b is also illustrated. In the case of the situation shown in FIG. 3a the flow connection body or the removal device respectively has not yet been inserted into the closure 100 of the container 10. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, in this case the closure 100 has a tubular body 102 which extends into the interior of the container 10. It is evident from FIG. 3b, which shows an inserted state of the flow connection body, that the piercing means or the cutting element 126 respectively is likewise inserted into this tubular body 102. This tubular body 102 is used so that when the container is squeezed the liquid can be removed to the maximum degree.

(15) FIG. 3c is a perspective illustration of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3a and 3d. It is evident that the closure 100 is screwed onto the aperture of the container in this case.

(16) In the case of the detailed illustration shown in FIG. 3d it is likewise evident that the container 10 has an external thread 10c onto which the closure is screwed, in particular with a peripheral wall 42. The reference number 44 designates an abutment face against which the cutting element 126, which has the cutting edge 125, rests. The reference number 48 designates a recess by means of which a peripheral pressure can be exerted radially inwards upon the cutting element 126. An enlargement of the flow cross-section between the closure 100 and the cutting element 126 during the removal procedure can also be achieved by this shaping of the recess.

(17) FIG. 3e is a further illustration of a container according to the invention with the flow connection body 122 inserted or with the cutting element 126 inserted respectively. It is also evident in this case that the cutting element 126 is inserted into the tubular body 102.

(18) FIGS. 4a to 4d show a further embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment it is not absolutely necessary for the container 10 to be squeezed or compressed respectively in order to empty the contents thereof. It would also be possible in this case for a gas to be additionally introduced in order to remove the liquid for removal by way of the tubular body 102 which acts in this case as an ascending pipe. For this purpose a further flow connection could be produced between the container 10 and the surroundings thereof, for example by a second line being inserted into the container, a gaseous medium then being supplied to the container by way of this second line.

(19) In this case it is possible for the tubular body 102 to be made flexible, but it would also be possible for it to be made rigid and to extend into a lower region of the container. In this case it would also be possible for the base 10a to be designed in a way other than this in order to make it possible for all the liquid if possible to be capable of being collected by the tubular body 102.

(20) The design of the closure is again similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a to 3e. In this case too, the piercing means is inserted into a tubular body 102.

(21) FIGS. 5a, 5b show a further design of the apparatus according to the invention. In the case of this embodiment a valve designated 70 as a whole and arranged in the closure 100 is opened by the insertion of the flow connection body 122. In this way, a flow connection to the interior of the container is produced.

(22) This valve 70 has in this case a valve body 74 movable in the longitudinal direction L. In a closed state of the valve, connecting channels 76 which can extend for example in the radial direction are covered on the periphery by a peripheral wall 84 which completely surrounds the valve body in the peripheral direction thereof in this case. In the illustration given in FIG. 5b these flow connections 76 are freed.

(23) The reference number 82 designates engagement means into which continuous projections 123, which are arranged on a flow connection body 122, can engage, as shown in FIG. 5b. In this way, when the flow connection body is withdrawn, the valve 70 can be closed again, or the valve body 74 can be moved upwards respectively. The reference number 78 designates a sealing means which is arranged on the valve body 74, which in this case can be an O-ring. In a closed state of the valve 70 this sealing means 78 rests against the peripheral wall 84 and in this way prevents an escape of liquid between the valve body 74 and the peripheral wall 84.

(24) FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the closure with the valve in an opened state. In this case too, it is evident that the flow connections 76 are freed and, in this way, liquid can be drawn upwards through these flow connections. In addition, a continuous recess 77 is also evident in this case, which is attached to these flow connections. On account of this continuous recess the flow cross-section for the liquid to be removed can be increased in an opened state of the valve 70.

(25) In addition, the engagement means 82 is evident in this case, which fixes the valve body 74 to the flow connection body 122 in a closed state.

(26) The Applicants reserve the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as being essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel either individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(27) 1 apparatus 2 first holding device 4 second holding device 10 container 10a base region of the container 10b second container region 12 removal device 42 peripheral wall of the closure 100 44 abutment face 48 recess 70 valve 74 valve body 76 connecting channels 77 recess 82 engagement means 84 peripheral wall 100 container closure 102 tubular body 106 sealing closure 108 recess 122 flow connection body 123 projections 124 hose 125 cutting edge 126 cutting element 128 connecting device 132 cover element L longitudinal direction