EP1440895B1 - Container for liquids, in particular beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

The active substance (8) is initially in contact with an outside wall of the container (1) and then when the dispensing device (3) is opened using an actuator part (13) of the addition device (2), a hole is formed in this outside wall, via which the active substance can be added to the container and the liquid can be later removed from the latter. The addition device is integrally connected to the dispensing device. The active substance is encapsulated.

Description

The invention relates to a container for storing liquids, in particular beverages, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The DE 201 07 738 U1 shows as well as the JP 10 194 352 A a soda can with two chambers and the DE 201 07 739 U1 a corresponding beverage bottle, the partition wall is to be opened by means of an adding device, wherein the adding device is formed separately from a removal device for removing the beverage from the can or the bottle.

The DE 197 38 775 A1 shows a liquid container, in the lid or container bottom a cavity for receiving a dietary supplement is provided, which is to be opened by manually peeling off a metal foil, and the contents of the container after opening of the liquid is manually zugebbar.

The WO 00/27717 A1 shows an adding device for adding a tablet to a beverage container, wherein a manually actuated actuating means presses on the tablet, the tablet then presses a separating membrane against a cutting means, which the Separation membrane opens and the tablet is then pressed into the beverage container. Subsequently, the feed device is unscrewed from the beverage container, thereby releasing the container opening for removing the beverage.

The DE 199 60 238 A1 shows a container with a cap member in which closed with a separation membrane, a substance is enclosed airtight. The cap member is first screwed in the closing direction of the container. In this case, the separating membrane is pierced by a cutting element and the substance is added to the container contents. Subsequently, the cap member is unscrewed in the opening direction and the container contents can be removed.

The EP 0 942 656 B1 shows an apparatus for producing a flavored beverage, wherein the flavoring are housed in a kind of drinking straw and the aromatization takes place on the removal of the drink on the drinking straw.

The WO 91/14637 shows a beverage container having a floating in the water capsule. The capsule is for example made of wax and contains a drug including a powder, for example, coffee powder. When the water is heated, the wax softens and the capsule dissolves so far that it releases the active ingredient.

The DE 199 13 611 A1 shows a container for receiving a food supplement. The container in the form of a cap is arranged at an opening of a liquid container and consists of an inner and an outer member, between which a cavity is formed, in which the food supplement is sealed is closed. By manual pressure on the inner member this is moved against the outer member and thereby open the cap and made a connection between the cavity and the liquid container, so that the food supplement falls into the liquid container.

The EP 1 072 530 A1 shows a container with a product such as milk, to which an additive can be added. The additive is arranged in a second container, which is completely encapsulated, in particular, the second container is completely closed with a separate separation membrane. Before mixing the additive to the product, both the separating membrane of the second container and a membrane of the container must be severed.

The WO 00/29297 shows a cap for a container with an integrated gas release valve for venting gas, especially CO2, which is produced during brewing or pressing.

Known beverage packaging consist for example of a cardboard reinforced metallized plastic film, which is often cuboid for space-saving transport and storage. Such a beverage packaging has in the simplest case as a removal device to a small, formed only by the aluminized plastic film separation membrane, which is pierced by means of a drinking straw. Resealable removal devices consist, for example, of a flap closure which covers an opening which in the initial state of the beverage packaging is closed by a glued-on aluminum foil.

Such beverage packages are offered for a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Since in some cases an increased temperature prevails when filling and closing these beverage containers, the filled drinks must be insensitive to this temperature effect. Furthermore, the known beverage containers are hermetically sealed in the initial state, so that, for example, fermentation in such containers must be prevented in order to avoid bursting of the packaging.

The invention has for its object to increase the scope of the known containers for storing liquids, especially drinks. For example, fermentation should be started in a fruit juice only at the request of a beverage consumer and only at his request and at a time specified by him.

This object is achieved by the container defined in claim 1. Particular embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

The active substance may be a biological or chemical agent, for example fungi, in particular yeasts for starting an alcoholic fermentation, bacteria, in particular lactic acid bacteria for starting a lactic acid, enzymes for controlling chemical reactions in the organism, vitamins, other additives or the like. In particular, by the active ingredients, a chemical transformation of the liquid by bacteria and enzymes be carried out, in particular by fermentation for the purpose of the development of flavor in food and luxury foods.

The invention is particularly advantageous in all the active ingredients which, for various reasons, can not be added directly to the liquid when the container is being filled. By the invention, for example, it is left to the consumer, at a Süßmost by Addition of yeasts to start the alcoholic fermentation. In principle, the active ingredient may also consist of a pure flavor, so that it is left to the beverage consumer, for example, to add a sweetener or certain vitamins to a beverage. Correspondingly, preservatives may be added even after opening the container and in view of a presumably longer storage period of the opened container.

The capsule of the active ingredient may, but need not mean, that the active ingredient is sealed in a gastight manner against the environment and / or the liquid. It is essential, in particular, that it is ensured by the capsules that the active substance retains its effectiveness until the feed device is actuated. For this purpose, it will be sufficient that between the active substance and the liquid, a partition or separation membrane is arranged, which is also a part of the rest of the container. This partition is at least partially broken when operating the feed device, for example, pierced and / or cut. Preferably, the addition device is to be actuated manually and / or from outside the container directly or indirectly. The container is preferably a disposable package formed of multiple walls; which in turn each form a preferably plane surface.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the feed device is attached to the outside of the container. For this purpose, the adding device can in particular be mounted only after the container has been produced and filled. Preferably, the addition means is attached to the container together with the active ingredient. In a simple Embodiment, the feed device is adhered to the container.

Preferably, the container at the point at which the feed device is arranged, at least in sections, a reduced wall thickness. Thus, for example, the container at the corresponding point have an opening which is closed by means of a glued and preferably thin-walled membrane. In particular, in the case of multi-layer packaging, only the number of layers can be reduced at the appropriate location. Alternatively or additionally, a type of perforation embossing can be provided at the corresponding point, by the attachment of an opening at the intended location with relatively little effort is possible.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is attached to the container only after the container has been filled with the liquid. Preferably, the attachment also takes place only after the closure of the container. As a result, the active ingredient is protected from influences, in particular temperature influences, which could be detrimental to the effectiveness of the active ingredient.

In a particular embodiment, the first time the feed device is actuated, the entire active substance can be dispensed into the liquid. Alternatively, an addition device can be realized which can be actuated multiple times and, in particular, during repeated actuation, in each case admits a prescribable or even predefined amount of the active substance of the liquid. For example, the active substance encapsulated between a separating membrane of the container wall and a covering film can be used in one sufficient pressure on the cover film pierce the separation membrane and be completely zugebbar in the liquid.

The container has a removal device, upon the first actuation of which an opening can be introduced into an outer wall of the container, via which the liquid can be removed from the container, wherein the addition device is formed integrally with the removal device. About the introduced into the container removal opening of the active ingredient is zugebbar when first pressing the removal device.

The first-time actuation of the removal device may in particular be the first-time opening of the container, for example, in that the wall of the container is pierced when opening. The piercing of the wall can be followed, for example, by a linear and / or rotational movement of a corresponding incisor tooth. About the thus prepared opening of the active ingredient of the liquid is zugebbar. For example, the active ingredient can be arranged under a cover cap, which pierces the wall of the container during the twisting off or pulling off and, in the same actuation process, the active ingredient is introduced through this opening into the interior of the container.

In a particular embodiment, the opening is closed again by a closure means. This can be done for example by a rotary, Renk or flap closure. Preferably, in the initial state of the container, the active substance is arranged in the region of the insertable opening between the closure means and the outer wall of the container. The integration of addition and Removal device is advantageous if the active ingredient is zugebbar in the first time the container is opened in the liquid.

In a particular embodiment, the closure means has a valve function. In particular, it should in any case be compensated to a degree in the container by the addition of the active ingredient developing underpressure or overpressure relative to the environment of the container that an unacceptable stress or deformation of the container is prevented due to the adjusting pressure difference.

Preferably, the active ingredient is in tablet form in the initial state of the container. Alternatively or additionally, several active ingredients may be present in the same or different consistency, for example as a powder, liquid or gel.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Behälters,

Fig. 2

zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Zugabeeinrichtung der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters,

Fig. 4

zeigt einen vergrößert dargestellten Querschnitt durch die Entnahme- und Zugabeeinrichtung der Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 bis 8

zeigen in vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung den Ablauf eines Verfahrens zum Herstellen des Behälters der Fig. 4.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the subclaims and the following description in which several embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any desired combination.

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of a container,

Fig. 2

shows a cross section through the feed device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention,

Fig. 4

shows an enlarged cross-section through the extraction and feed device of FIG. 3,

Fig. 5 to 8

show a simplified schematic representation of the sequence of a method for producing the container of FIG. 4.

The containers shown in Figs. 1 and 2 do not correspond to the presently claimed invention.

1 shows a perspective view of a container 1. On the upper front side, the container 1, a first embodiment of the feed device 2, which is shown enlarged in cross section in FIG. Spaced apart from the feed device 2 and likewise at the upper end side, the container 1 has a first embodiment of a removal device 3, which in the first exemplary embodiment is reclosable by a closure means 7 which folds around a plastic hinge 5 corresponding to the double arrow 6. The removal device 3 can be designed essentially as known from the prior art.

Due to the separate arrangement and design of the feed device 2 and the removal device 3, it is possible, in Fig. 1 only dashed lines indicated drug 8 before, more or less simultaneously, or more or less long after opening the container 1 by removal device 3 of the liquid admit. In particular, there is the possibility, for example, of a fruit juice, first to consume a portion of the contents of the container 1 as sweet must, then to actuate the adding device and thus, for example, to add a yeast to the liquid to thereby initiate an alcoholic fermentation. After a corresponding fermentation period, which is dependent on the external boundary conditions and in particular on the temperature, then the fermented grape must be consumed.

Since such fermentation usually produces fermentation gases, in particular carbon dioxide, through which an overpressure could build up in the container, either the feed device 2, the removal device 3, in particular the closure means 7, and / or the container 1 can have an overpressure valve elsewhere through which the resulting fermentation gases are discharged to the outside. Alternatively, the fermentation can take place even when the closure means 7 is open.

2 shows a cross section through the feed device 2 of FIG. 1. The container 1 is formed in the illustrated as well as in the remaining area by a cardboard 9, which is laminated on the inside with a metallized, in particular aluminized, plastic film. At the point 11 at which the feed device 2 is arranged, the carton 9 has a preferably circular cutout, which is covered by an actuating means 13, which is preferably likewise circular and fixed to the carton 9 by means of an annular adhesive layer 12. If necessary, the actuating means 13 may still be secured against unintentional or unauthorized operation, for example by a removable safety cap.

In cross-section, the actuating means 13 is substantially "T" -shaped with a substantially parallel to the carton 9 and through The foot part 14 protrudes into the interior of the recess in the carton 9, this recess moreover also accommodating the active ingredient present in powder form in the exemplary embodiment illustrated. At its end facing away from the cover 15 end, the foot part 14 has at least one cutting edge or cutting tip 16, which pierces the metallized plastic film 10 at a finger pressure on the actuating means 13 and thereby the active substance 8 in the interior of the container 1 can be assigned. The actuating means 13 is operated directly manually in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a container 101 according to the invention. The container 101 has a removal device 103 on the upper end surface 104, upon the first actuation of which an opening can be introduced into the outer wall of the container 101 formed by the upper end surface 104, over which the liquid from the container 101 can be removed. In the illustrated embodiment, the removal device 103 integrally forms the addition device 102. Thus, upon first actuation by turning the cap 117, the opening is introduced into the outer wall of the container, as shown in FIG. 4, which shows an enlarged cross-section through the extraction and addition device 102, 103. Consequently, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the actuation of the actuating means 113 is effected indirectly indirectly by turning the closure cap 117.

The container 101 is in turn essentially formed by a cardboard 109, which on the inside with a metallized plastic film 110th is laminated. On the cardboard 109, the flange of a tubular connecting piece 118 is adhesively bonded by means of an adhesive layer 112, which has an external thread 119 on its outside. On the socket 118, the female thread 120 having a cap 117 can be screwed. The closure cap 117, together with the neck 118 and the metallized plastic film 110, defines a cavity for receiving the active ingredient 108, which in the illustrated embodiment is in tablet form.

As an insert part also in the illustrated embodiment, a substantially annular actuating means 113 is provided, the axial extent varies in the circumferential direction of a minimum value to a maximum value. The closure cap 117 forms on the inside preferably integrally with the actuating means 113 corresponding pin 121, web or the like, which comes at the first opening operation of the closure cap 117 in axial contact with the actuating means 113 and the actuating means 113 upon further rotation of the cap 117 an opening into the metallized plastic film 110. Via the thus prepared opening, the active ingredient 108 is added to the interior of the container 101. After removing the closure cap 117, the liquid can also be removed from the container 101 via the opening thus produced.

5 to 8 show a simplified schematic representation of the sequence of a method for producing the container 101 of FIG. 4. After filling the container 101 with the liquid to be packaged 122, the nozzle 118 is glued to the upper end face 104. Subsequently, the actuating means 113 is inserted in the space enclosed by the neck 118 annulus or possibly by means of a. screwed corresponding internal thread of the nozzle 118. The state thus achieved is shown in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, the active substance 108 is inserted into the space enclosed by the connection 118 and the closure cap 117 is screwed on. When fully screwed on the pin 121 is slightly spaced from the actuating means 113 or at least only in such a way that the pressure on the actuating means 113 is not sufficient to introduce the opening in the outer wall of the container 101. This state shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the transport state of the container 101.

As an alternative to the procedure described above, the nozzle 118, the actuating means 113 and the closure cap 117 can also be set together as a structural unit on the container 101. In addition, the agent 108 may be placed on the container 101 at the appropriate location prior to attaching the nozzle 118 or the assembly, and only then the nozzle 118 or the assembly to be fixed to the container 101. Preferably, the active ingredient 108 is not fixed to the container 101, in particular only loosely placed on the container 101, so that a falling into the container 101 is ensured after its opening.

As shown in Fig. 7, the actuating means 113 is pressed by the pin 121 downwardly at the first opening operation of the closure cap 117 corresponding to the arrow 123 and thereby severed the metallized plastic film 110 such that the active substance 108 falls into the interior of the container 101 , In order for this depression of the actuating means 113 by the rotation of the closure cap 117, For example, be provided on the actuating means 113 between the minimum and maximum axial extent a slope which is greater than the pitch of the thread on the neck 118 and the cap 117th

In Fig. 8, the container 101 is shown with removed cap 117. The tablet-form active ingredient 108 dissolves in the liquid 122. The liquid 122 can now be removed through the opening and then the cap 117 are replaced, whereby the opening is closed again. Depending on the application, the closure cap 117 may have a valve function, in particular in that the gases of the chemical reaction started by the active substance 108 can escape via the closure cap 117.

Claims (9)

1. Container (101) for packaging fluids (122), in particular drinks, having an additive (108), the container (101) having a removal device (103) which has a closure means (117), and a supply device (102), by means of whose activation the additive (108) which was previously sealed relative to the fluid (122) and relative to the environment of the container (101) can be added to the fluid (122), and the supply device (102) being constructed so as to be integral with the removal device (103), characterised in that, in the initial state, the additive (108) rests directly on an outer wall of the container (101) and in that, when the removal device (103) is activated in order to open for the first time, an opening can be made in the outer wall of the container (101), via which the additive (108) can first be added to the fluid (122) and subsequently, with the activation direction (123) of the removal device (103) being maintained, the closure means (117) releases the opening so that the fluid (122) can be removed from the container (101).
2. Container (101) according to claim 1, characterised in that the supply device (102) has an activation means (113) which can be activated from outside the container (101).
3. Container (101) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the container (101), at the location at which the supply device (102) is arranged, has a reduced wall thickness at least over portions.
4. Container (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the additive (108) can be fitted to the container (101) after the container (101) has been filled with the fluid (122).
5. Container (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, when the supply device (102) is activated for the first time, all of the additive (108) can be added to the fluid (122).
6. Container (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the opening can be closed again using the closure means (117), and in that the additive (108), in the initial state of the container (101), is arranged in the region of the opening which can be formed between the closure means (117) and the outer wall of the container (101).
7. Container (101) according to claim 6, characterised in that the closure means (117) has a valve function.
8. Container (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the additive (108) is in tablet form when the container (101) is in the initial state.
9. Container (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the additive (108) is fungi, in particular yeast fungi, bacteria, in particular lactic acid bacteria, enzymes, vitamins, or the like.

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