WO1999001349A1 - Insert for the mouth of a container and method for producing a container with such a mouth - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouth insert for a container (1, 1', 1"), comprising a ventilation duct (2, 2', 2") with a discharge tube (7. 7'). Said discharge tube (7, 7') is encompassed by a bottom (8, 8', 8") on the outside of its external surface with a ventilation duct connection orifice (12) and which is defined by a jacket (10, 10') sealing the inner wall of the container mouth (3, 3', 3") when the insert is successfully inserted into the mouth of the container (3, 3', 3"). The container mouth insert is formed in such a way that a groove-shaped collector duct encompasses the discharge tube (7, 7') once the insert has been successfully introduced into the mouth of the container (3, 3', 3"), wherein the collector channel bottom (8, 8', 8") is formed by the above-mentioned bottom (8. 8', 8") and the collector duct is used to transport dripping liquid (14, 15) to the ventilation duct (2, 2', 2"). A blow mandrel has a pre-blow mandrel (25) to calibrate a discharge opening, a secondary blow mandrel (24) to calibrate the mouth of the ventilation duct and a main blow mandrel (23) to calibrate the bottom of the collector duct (8"). A blow mold has an extension which corresponds in shape to a wall of the discharge tube. In a method to produce a plastic container (1") with the container mouth insert, a flexible plastic tube is blown up in the closed blow mold, the container (1") is separated from the oversqueezed plastic part (21) and the blow mandrel is inserted into the mouth of the container.

Description

 Container mouth insert and method for producing a container with such a container mouth insert

The invention relates to a container mouth insert according to the preamble of claim 1, a blow mandrel according to the preamble of claim 9, a blow mold according to the preamble of claim 12 and a method according to the preamble of claim 13.

A container for liquids with an aeration channel to prevent gurgling and splashing during pouring is known from EP 0 677 445 B1 and from US Pat. No. 5,538,165. With such a container, the ventilation channel begins within the container mouth and leads into an upper region of the free space of the filled container on a side of the container opposite the container mouth. La and lb show partial views of such a container 1 with a partial section through the container mouth 3 and the ventilation channel 2nd

EP 0 820 934 A1 also discloses a container for liquids with an aeration channel which prevents gurgling and splashing during pouring. However, while the ventilation channel in the case of the container known from EP 0 677 445 B1 and US Pat. No. 5,538,165 projects into the container mouth in the region near the container mouth, the ventilation channel in the container known from EP 0 820 934 AI is arranged such that it protrudes straight and horizontally into the pouring spout below its external thread and has an insert opening in the pouring spout on its top in which a vertical extension spout is arranged is, which extends to the bottom of the cap of the pouring spout.

If the term "container with ventilation channel" is not used in the following in connection with a very specifically defined exemplary embodiment, this term includes both containers with a ventilation channel corresponding to EP 0 677 445 B1 and US 5,538,165 and containers with one of the EP 0 820 934 AI to understand corresponding ventilation duct as well as with other suitable ventilation duct shapes.

In the case of such a container, liquid content can reach the outer wall of the container by spilling over, for example when / the container containing liquid is set down, or by the adhesive action if the pouring jet escapes too slowly and drip via the latter to the bottom. The resulting unclean work can, for example, create a risk of slipping due to oil spills or contamination of the outer wall of the container by potentially dangerous liquids.

A container mouth of a container without a ventilation channel is known from the prior art, in which a central pouring tube, which projects axially beyond the mouth surface, is arranged coaxially to the mouth wall. The connection between the inner surface of the mouth wall and the outer surface of the pouring tube forms a channel-shaped collecting channel at the lower end. The pouring tube is provided on its side facing away from the pouring direction with a slot which extends to the bottom of the channel-shaped collecting channel. The liquid dripping from such a container during or after pouring moves along the outer surface of the pouring tube into the nen shaped Sa melkanal and from there through the slot in the pouring pipe back into the interior of the container. So the dripping liquid does not come into contact with the outer wall of the container.

The container according to the prior art just described has the disadvantage, however, that it is not provided with a ventilation channel. Therefore, gurgling and splashing of liquid occurs when pouring liquid from this container. This gurgling and splashing is intensified by the way in which the draining liquid return described in the previous paragraph is even more pronounced. Therefore, this container known from the prior art can only be used for filling harmless liquids, e.g. used as a container for liquid detergent.

The invention has for its object to provide a container mouth insert for a container with a ventilation channel, through which it is avoided that liquid in connection with its pouring from the container reaches the outer wall of the container, the advantage achieved by the ventilation channel of preventing gurgling and splashing of the filling material should be preserved when pouring. The invention is also based on the object of providing a blow mandrel and a blow mold for use in the production of a plastic container with a ventilation channel and such a container mouth insert, and a method for producing a plastic container with a ventilation channel and such a container mouth insert.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a container mouth insert according to claim 1, a blow mandrel according to claim 9, a blow mold according to claim 12 and a method according to claim 13. In the case of the container mouth insert according to the invention, liquid drips through the adhesive effect during or immediately after a pouring operation only on the outer wall of the pouring tube. From there, however, the dripping liquid does not reach the outer wall of the container, but only into the channel-shaped collecting channel, from which it then flows further into the ventilation channel mouth after the container has been set down. Finally, the drained liquid is returned to the filling space of the container via the ventilation channel. Since the draining liquid does not, as is known from the prior art, directly from the trough-shaped collecting channel via the pouring pipe, but instead via the ventilation channel, returns to the filling space of the container, a gurgling and splashing during pouring out is also possible when using the draining liquid return device in the form of the avoided container mouth insert. A container provided with such a container mouth insert according to the invention is consequently also suitable for handling dangerous contents.

Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the container mouth insert according to the invention are the subject of claims 2 to 8.

In particular, it is possible to manufacture the container mouth insert according to the invention both as a separate device and in one piece with the container mouth. A separate container mouth insert according to the invention can, depending on requirements, be placed on a container provided with an aeration channel before a pouring operation or can be used for the permanent retrofitting of older containers of this type. The production of an attachment which is formed in one piece with the container mouth, in turn, can advantageously be integrated in terms of production technology in the process of container production. The special inclination of the collecting duct bottom in the embodiment of the container mouth insert according to claim 2 enables a particularly rapid return of liquid located in the channel-shaped collecting duct into the ventilation duct opening.

The design of the pouring tube according to claim 3 as a pull-out pouring tube is of particular interest for the use of the container mouth insert according to the invention in large containers, in order to enable the best possible glucose-free dosing during pouring. The embodiment according to claim 3 is also advantageous, for example, for stackable containers in which a very particularly safe pouring is also to be made possible.

The embodiments of the container mouth insert according to claims 4 and 5 ensure through the intermediate wall in the region of the ventilation duct connection opening that a blockage of the ventilation duct mouth by backflowing filling material is largely avoided even with highly viscous filling material. The returning filling material and the ventilation air flowing into the ventilation duct are always separated from one another by means of the intermediate wall.

The sealing lamellae attached to the outer surface of the sleeve in the embodiment of the container mouth insert according to claim 6 ensure in a particularly advantageous manner that no filling material runs out of the container mouth when emptying the container other than through the pouring tube.

The in the embodiment of the container mouth insert according to claim 7 on the outer surface of the If the inner container mouth wall is suitably designed, the locking knobs provided can snap into one or more extensions on the inner container mouth wall and in this way enable a particularly secure tight fit of the container mouth insert in the container mouth.

Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the blow mandrel according to the invention are the subject of claims 10 and 11.

The embodiment of the blow mandrel according to claim 10, in which the pre-blow mandrel and the main blow mandrel are arranged axially displaceable relative to one another, makes it possible to carry out different steps of the method according to the invention on one and the same station of a blow molding machine, by initially only the pre-blow mandrel in the blow mold according to the invention is introduced and the main blow mandrel only comes into action in a later step of the blow molding machine, but preferably only after the removal of the obstructing waste material, on the same station of the blow molding machine.

Advantageous and preferred developments of the method according to the invention are the subject of claims 14 to 17.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to figures. It shows:

La is a partially sectioned side view of a container known from the prior art with a ventilation channel,

Fig. Lb is a partially sectioned plan view of the container of Fig. La, 2a is a sectional side view of a first embodiment of a container mouth insert according to the invention,

2b is a plan view of the container mouth insert of Fig. 2a,

3a shows a sectional partial side view of the container of FIG. 1a with the container mouth insert of FIG. 2a inserted,

3b shows the arrangement shown in Fig. 3a in plan view,

4 shows the arrangement shown in FIG. 3a during a pouring operation,

5 shows the drop flow in the arrangement of FIG. 3a after the pouring process has ended,

Fig. 6 is a side view of a container with a second

Embodiment of the container mouth insert according to the invention,

7 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 6,

Fig. 8 is an illustration of a section along the line A-B of Fig. 7,

9 is an illustration of a section along the line C-D of Fig. 8,

10 is an illustration of a section along the line E-F of FIG. 8,

11 shows a step during an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention and

12 shows a further step during the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

A partial block-shaped container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b with rounded corners and edges has a container opening 3 on one of its narrow sides. This comprises a container mouth wall 4, a pouring opening 5 and a ventilation channel mouth 6. An ventilation channel 2 leads from the above-mentioned ventilation channel mouth 6 via the container top floor to the part of the container interior opposite the container mouth 3, in which a negative pressure is formed when the liquid content is emptied. The ventilation duct 2 provides a continuous air supply into the _Behalte-, channel space during the pouring operation and prevents in this way glugging and splashing of the poured becoming liquid.

2a shows a first exemplary embodiment of a container mouth insert according to the invention in a sectional side view. FIG. 2b shows a top view of the container mouth insert from FIG. 2a. The container mouth insert according to the invention has a pouring tube 7, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the container mouth 3 and which communicates with the pouring opening 5 when the container mouth insert is inserted into the container mouth, as can be seen from FIGS. 3a and 3b. The pouring tube 7 is surrounded outside of its outer surface by a base 8 which has a ventilation duct connection opening 12 which communicates with the ventilation duct mouth 6 when the container mouth insert is inserted into the container mouth 3 (see FIGS. 3a and 3b) and is delimited by a sleeve 10, which, after the container mouth insert has been inserted into the container mouth 3, lies sealingly against the inner wall of the container mouth 3 (see FIGS. 3a and 3b). Here, the container mouth insert is shaped such that, after the container mouth insert has been inserted into the container mouth 3, a gutter-shaped collecting duct surrounds the pouring tube, the collecting duct base being formed by said base 8 and the collecting duct serving to convey drained liquid to the ventilation duct 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a, in this first exemplary embodiment of the container mouth insert according to the invention, Set of the collecting duct floor 8 inclined towards the ventilation duct connection opening 12 so that drip liquid can run back as quickly as possible into the ventilation duct 2 and via this into the container volume as a result of the gradient created.

In the illustrated first exemplary embodiment of the container mouth insert according to the invention, 10 sealing lamellae 9 are attached to the outer surface of the sleeve. These effect a particularly good liquid seal when the container mouth insert is inserted into the container mouth 3 as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

On the outer surface of the sleeve 10 there is also a snap-in recess 11 into which a corresponding snap-in projection of the inner wall of the container mouth 3 engages in order to fix the position of the container mouth insert according to the invention.

As shown in Fig. 4, the pouring stream 13 is held together by the pouring tube 7 so that it does not touch the container mouth wall 4. This prevents the pouring liquid from flowing out onto the floor on the outside of the container 1 and forming oil puddles there, for example.

In the case of the container mouth insert according to the invention, liquid drips through the adhesive effect during or immediately after a pouring operation only on the outer wall of the pouring tube 7. This is indicated in FIG. 5 by reference number 14. Finally, the arrows 15 in FIG. 5 show how the draining liquid then runs via the channel-shaped collecting channel into the ventilation channel connection opening 12 and further into the ventilation channel 2.

6 is a side view of the mouth area of a J ü

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11 and 12, an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing a container 1 "from plastic with a ventilation channel 2", with a container mouth 3 "and with a container mouth insert formed integrally with the container mouth 3" will now be described. This method is carried out using a blow mold according to the invention, in which the inner contour of the closed blow mold corresponds at least outside the container mouth area to the outer contour of the container 1 "to be produced and which has an extension which corresponds in shape to a wall of the pouring tube The inventive blow mandrel has a pre-blow mandrel 25 for calibrating the pouring opening and a secondary blow mandrel 24 for widening and calibrating the ventilation duct mouth. In addition, the blow mandrel according to the invention has a main blow mandrel 23 , which surrounds the pre-blowing mandrel 25, carries the secondary blowing mandrel 24 and is used for the shaping and calibration of the collecting duct base 8 ". However, the collecting duct can only be formed after the material waste has been removed in the region of the extension.

The method according to the invention proceeds as follows: A plastic tube is, as is usual with blowing, brought into the area of a blow mold according to the invention. The blow mold is usually a two-part blow mold, which is closed after the plastic tube has been inserted. After the blow mold has been closed, a first blow mandrel 22 of conventional construction moves from its waiting position into the squeezed-out pouring opening of the container blank and blows out its contour. Inflation is done with hot air, if possible, over one Blow channel 26 of the first blow mandrel 22 is blown into the blow mold. The tip of the blow mandrel is hot and the inflation is carried out within a few seconds. The first blow mandrel 22 then returns to its waiting position. The pouring spout and the squeezed shoulder spout 21 are deburred as far as possible within the blowing station up to the height of the annular surface of the pouring opening. The container 1 "is brought into a second blow mold by mechanized grippers or is held in its shape by a multi-part molding die, whereupon the blow mandrel according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 12, is placed on the container mouth 3". In this step, the pre-blowing mandrel 25, which essentially corresponds in shape to the first blowing mandrel 22, calibrates the pouring opening. The main blowing mandrel 23 shapes and calibrates the collecting duct base 8 ″, and the secondary blowing mandrel 24 calibrates the ventilation duct opening.

The method according to the invention can be used both for containers with a curved ventilation channel, as was shown above in connection with the first embodiment of the container mouth insert according to the invention, and for containers with a straight ventilation channel, as shown above in connection with the second embodiment of the container mouth insert according to the invention become.

It is possible to arrange the pre-blowing mandrel 25 and the main blowing mandrel 23 axially displaceable relative to one another. Furthermore, the secondary blowing mandrel 24 and the main blowing mandrel 23 can also be arranged axially displaceable relative to one another. If the pre-blowing mandrel 25 and the main blowing mandrel 23 are axially displaceable relative to one another, in the method according to the invention the step of inflating the container contour and, after the partial removal of the / waste, the step of completely shaping the container mouth insert can be and the same station of a blow molding machine. In this case, the pre-blow mandrel 25 takes over the function of the first blow mandrel 22 shown in FIG. 11, the main blow mandrel 23 and the secondary blow mandrel 24 being retracted so far in this step that they do not engage in the blow mold.

It is also possible to equip the first blow mandrel 22 or, in the last-mentioned method variant, the blow mandrel according to the invention with grippers which, when the blow mandrel is first moved out of the inflated container 1 ″, simultaneously take over the separation of the container 1 ″ from the crushed plastic part 21.

The method according to the invention can be carried out fully automatically. In particular, it is possible to insert an additional pull-out pouring tube into the container mouth insert by means of a robot in the work cycle of the blow molding machine.

Claims

claims Container mouth insert for a container (1, 1 ', 1 ") with ventilation channel (2, 2', 2"), which has a container mouth (3, 3 ', 3 ") within which a pouring opening (5, 5') and A ventilation channel mouth (6) is arranged, characterized in that the container mouth insert has a pouring tube (7, 7 ') with a diameter which communicates with the pouring opening (5, 5') when the container mouth insert is inserted into the container mouth (3, 3 ', 3 ") , which is smaller than the diameter of the container mouth (3, 3 ', 3 "), wherein - The pouring tube (7, 7 ') outside its outer surface is surrounded by a bottom (8, 8', 8 ") - Has a ventilation duct connection opening (12) which communicates with the ventilation duct mouth (6) when the container mouth insert is inserted into the container mouth (3, 3 ', 3 ") - Is limited by a sleeve (10, 10 ') which, after successful use of the container mouth insert into the container mouth (3, 3', 3 "), lies sealingly against the inner wall of the container mouth (3, 3 ', 3"), and - The container mouth insert is shaped so that after the use of the container mouth insert into the container mouth (3, 3 ', 3 ") a channel-shaped collecting channel surrounds the pouring tube (7, 7'), wherein - The collecting channel floor (8, 8 ', 8 ") is formed by said ^" floor (8, 8', 8 ") and - The collecting channel for the transport of drained liquid (14, 15) to the ventilation channel (2, 2 ', 2 "). Container mouth insert according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting duct base (8, 8 ', 8 ") is inclined towards the ventilation duct connection opening (12). Container mouth insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pouring tube is a pull-out pouring tube (7 '). Container mouth insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting duct in the region of the ventilation duct connection opening (12 ', 12 ") has an intermediate wall which is designed in such a way that recirculated liquid flows only over part of the ventilation duct connection opening (12', 12") the ventilation duct mouth reaches. Container mouth insert according to claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate wall consists of two webs (17, 18) which are arranged so that they a portion (12 ") of the ventilation duct connection opening (12 ', 12") lying between them in front of the collecting duct Shield liquid flowing into the ventilation duct connection opening (12 ', 12 "). Container mouth insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (10, 10 ') has sealing lamellae (9, 9') on its outer surface. Container mouth insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (10, 10 ') has locking knobs on its outer surface. 8. container mouth insert according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is integrally formed with the container mouth (3 "). 9. blow mandrel for use in the manufacture of a container (1 ") from plastic with a ventilation channel (2"), with a container mouth (3 ") and with a container mouth insert according to claim 8, wherein the blow mandrel - A pre-blowing mandrel (25) for calibrating the pouring opening and - Has a secondary blowing mandrel (24) for calibrating the ventilation channel opening, characterized by a main blowing mandrel (23) which surrounds the preliminary blowing mandrel (25), carries the secondary blowing mandrel (24) and for calibrating the Collecting channel bottom (8 ") is used. 10. Blow mandrel according to claim 9, characterized in that the pre-blow mandrel (25) and the main blow mandrel (23) are axially displaceable relative to each other. 11. Blow mandrel according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the secondary blow mandrel (24) and the main blow mandrel (23) are axially displaceable relative to each other. 12. blow mold for use in the manufacture of a container (1 ") from plastic with a ventilation channel (2"), with a container mouth (3 ") and with a container mouth insert according to claim 8, wherein the inner contour of the closed blow mold at least outside the container mouth area of Corresponds to the outer contour of the container (1 ") to be manufactured, characterized in that the blow mold has an extension, which in its shape corresponds to a wall of the pouring tube. 13. A method for producing a container (1 ") made of plastic with a ventilation channel (2"), with a container mouth (3 ") and with a container mouth insert according to claim 8 using a blow mandrel according to one of claims 9 to 11 and a blow mold according to / Claim 12, characterized by the following steps carried out in succession: a) inflating a plastic tube in the closed blow mold, b) separating the container (1 ") from the crimped plastic portion (21), c) inserting said blow mandrel into the container mouth. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that steps a) to c) are carried out in different stations of a blow molding machine and between the respective steps the container (1 ") is transported from station to station. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a blow mandrel according to claim 10 is used, characterized in that at least steps a) and c) are carried out on one and the same station of a blow molding machine and the inflation in step a) by means of said pre-blow mandrel (25 ) happens, the main blowing mandrel (23) being withdrawn so far in step a) that it does not engage in the blow mold. 16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the following step is carried out after step c): d) inserting a pull-out pouring tube into the container mouth. 17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that it is carried out fully automatically.