Device for emptying containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738408-B2
Application number	US-201314440368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2013
Priority date	Nov 6, 2012
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprises a first holding device which is suitable for holding a first portion of the container, a second holding device which is suitable for holding a second portion of the container, a drive device for producing a relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device in order to deform in this way the container arranged between these holding devices in such a way that the internal volume thereof is reduced, and a removal device which is connected in terms of flow to the inner space of the container and by way of which the liquid is capable of being removed as a result of compression of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprising:
a first holding device constructed and arranged to hold a first portion of the container;
a second holding device constructed and arranged to hold a second portion of the container;
wherein the second portion of the container is positioned at a distance from the first portion of the container;
wherein the first and second holding devices are positioned relative to each other so that the container can be positioned between the first and second holding devices and can be deformed by a relative movement of one holding device with respect to the other holding device, and wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the recess extending along a portion of, and not an entire width of, the other of the first and second holding devices, wherein a contact area between a bottom surface of the container and the second holding device is constant during the relative movement;
a drive device for producing the relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device to deform the container positioned between the first and second holding devices so that the internal volume thereof is reduced; and
a removal device in fluid communication with an inner space of the container so that liquid can be removed from the container as a result of the reduction of the internal volume of the container,
wherein at least portions of bodies of the first holding device and the second holding device can be directed toward each other in accordance with the relative movement to cause the reduction in volume in the container positioned between them.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the second holding device is adapted to a shape of a base of the container to be emptied.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the first holding device is adapted to a shape of a base of the container to be emptied.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide device which guides a relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device in such a way that the first holding device and the second holding device are displaceable with respect to each other along a linear axis and are fixed relative to each other in a direction of rotation.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a central region of the first holding device, the first holding device further comprises a projection which faces in the direction of the second holding device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising one or more ducts for conveying the medium to be emptied provided on a surface of the projection.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first holding device forms a contact face which is at least locally circularly annular for the container.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the removal device has a piercing device for piercing at least one wall of the container or a container closure of the container.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the second holding device is displaceable with respect to the piercing device.

10. A method of removing liquids from a container comprising:
arranging a container, a first portion of which is on a first holding device and a second portion of which is positioned at a distance from the first portion on a second holding device, so that the container is positioned at least locally between the first holding device and the second holding device;
moving the second holding device relative to the first holding device to deform the container in order to reduce the internal volume of the container, wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the recess extending along a portion of, and not an entire width of, the other of the first and second holding devices; and
removing liquid out of the container by means of a removal device during moving of the second holding device,
wherein at least portions of bodies of the first holding device and the second holding device which are directed toward each other are adapted to each other at least in sections so that when the first and second holding devices are moved toward each other an internal volume of the container positioned between the first and second holding devices is reduced and a contact area between a bottom surface of the container and the second holding device is constant during the movement.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curved projection is in a circular area about a center of a region of the first or second holding device, which includes a central axis of the container to be emptied.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the region of the first or second holding device includes an axis of symmetry of the container.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the axis of symmetry is a geometrical axis of symmetry.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the region of the first or second holding device includes lower lying regions about the curved projection, and wherein the lower lying regions include regions facing away from an interior space of the container.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curved projection is curved at least locally and shaped outwards in a dome-shape at least locally or has a profile in the shape of a hemisphere or hemi-ellipse.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curved projection has a rotationally symmetrical cross-section or circular cross-section.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one portion between the first and second holding devices is formed without a housing, and wherein at least one portion of the container to be compressed is not surrounded during a compression procedure by a directly adjacent housing.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a projection on the second holding device, which engages either a recess in the container or a base of the container, and wherein when the first and second holding devices are positioned to be at or near each other, the projection engages a recess in the first holding device.

19. An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprising:
a first holding device constructed and arranged to hold a first portion of the container;
a second holding device constructed and arranged to hold a second portion of the container;
wherein the second portion of the container is positioned at a distance from the first portion of the container;
wherein the first and second holding devices are positioned relative to each other so that the container can be positioned between the first and second holding devices and can be deformed by a relative movement of one holding device with respect to the other holding device, and wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the container partially inserted, and not entirely inserted, into the recess of the first holding device, wherein a contact area betwee

Assignees

• Krones Ag
• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Sobiech Bernd
• Grosch Sabine

Classifications

• B65B69/005 Primary

  by expelling contents, e.g. by squeezing the container · CPC title

• B67D1/0001 Primary

  by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers (B67D1/0462 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D1/00 Primary

  Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught (B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00) · CPC title