EP1120357A1 - Package for visquous products comprising a flexible bag and a rigid protecting shell and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

The paint storage method consists of choosing a sealed and flexible bag (10) with an insufficient resistance to resist the weight of the product. The bag is placed in a protective rigid container (20) so that its edge passes over that of the container. The bag is held open and the product is poured into it until it is level with the container edge. The bag edge is then folded on top of the product and stored. After using the product the empty bag is removed from the container.

Description

The use of viscous products requires their packaging at a place of manufacture of products, then transport them to a place of use.

Generally, the packaging of such products is done in metal drums of 200 liters whose weight is much too high for two men, let alone one alone can move them.

In the case of paints, plasters and coatings for the building industry, the drums constitute a considerable inconvenience to paint companies because, in addition to their various manipulations, empty drums are unusable and accumulate until they are eliminated, this storage at vacuum in addition to full storage, i.e. companies must have a surface area the more important the greater their flow.

It is indeed impossible, in practice, to clean empty drums because product residues after drying would require the use of strong and harmful solvents during operations long, all resulting in prohibitive costs.

Empty drums are themselves very polluting waste and their destruction costs very expensive.

We also know of containers made of a flexible bag placed in an envelope rigid exterior, but the placement of the bag, the transhipments of the assembly, the emptying of the bag by tilting the assembly and reusing the bag assumes that it is robust. Generally, this bag is made from a plastic sheath which must be thick, which has disadvantages not only because of its price but also for its use.

After filling the bag, its opening is sealed because the rigidity of the bag is such that during the transport of the assembly, its edges if they were simply folded, would tend to reopen because of the "nerve" of the synthetic material.

For the same reason, it is not possible to fold the edge of the bag over the edge of the envelope, either to fill the bag already placed in the envelope, or to empty the contents by pumping. Besides, the bag being always sealed, we open it by cutting it with a knife blade or the like, which is incompatible with the guarantee of having an edge bag long enough to cover the outside of the envelope and protect it.

This is why containers of this type, known as "bag-in-barrel", are often intended to be emptied in one go by overturning

The present invention relates to a new process for keeping barrels clean original, internally and externally, and to reuse them as is, since they are not not soiled, this process also allows almost complete use of the product, which avoids significant losses.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for the use of viscous products such as oils, greases, tars and bitumens, paints, coatings and coatings, including a bag waterproof placed in a rigid outer envelope characterized in that one chooses a bag waterproof and flexible, of insufficient strength to be reusable and to resist efforts due to the weight of the product and / or storage and transport constraints, that the bag is placed freely, i.e. without fixing it, in a rigid and robust protective cover for use prolonged but unfit to contain the product repeatedly since it cannot be completely cleaned and free of product residue, envelope with bottom, vertical walls and an upper opening whose edge is formed by the end of the walls, keep the bag in the envelope so that its edge exceeds that of the edge, keep the bag open, pour the product into the bag to a level lower than the edge, fold the edge of the bag over the product without closing the bag, then after possible storage, we transport the whole bag - envelope according to the orientation that this assembly had when it was filled, up to a place of use of the product, where we always leave it in the same orientation, then we spread the folds of the bag to give access to the product through the upper opening, which is taken from the product in one or several times, in particular by pumping, until the bag is practically empty, then remove the bag from the envelope, which we pass the flattened bag from its bottom, in a calender in order to extract the rest of the product, which is collected in a container, discard the bag and return the empty envelope to the place of placement a new new bag for the filling of this new bag and a new use.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to attached drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of example indicative and not limiting.

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the two parts of a container according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of an empty container according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a container according to the invention, in progress filling.

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a container according to the invention, filled and closed, ready to use.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the method of use according to the invention, from the reception of a filled and closed container, to the extraction of the product.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the method of use according to the invention, after you finish extracting the product.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, we see that a container according to the invention comprises two parts, namely a plastic bag 10 and a robust envelope 20.

The bag 10 has a free mouth 11 and the envelope 20 has a removable cover 21.

The envelope 20 has a bottom 22 and walls 23 whose height h is less than the height H of the bag 10, so that the edge 12 of the mouth 11 exceeds the edge 24 of the envelope 20.

The envelope 20 represented here is a standard metal barrel with a useful capacity of 200 liters and it is therefore the height H of the bag which must be adapted to that h of the barrel 20 which is constant, because it is, on the other hand , very easy to determine the height H during the manufacture of the bag 10.

It is the same, moreover, the diameter of the sheath from which the bag 10 is obtained. according to a process well known in itself, because the interior space of the barrel 20 is as intangible as its height.

To fill the container, first place the bag 10 in the barrel 20 (Figure 2), releasing the mouth 11 so that it remains well open. As shown, we return the top of the bag 10 so that it can be placed outside the barrel 20, covering the edge 24, which has the triple advantage of keeping the bag 10 deployed, of keeping the mouthpiece 11 open and prevent any contamination from entering between the bag 10 and the barrel 20, or more generally flow outside the barrel 20.

The bag 10 is chosen only for its tightness, that is to say for its ability to isolate the product to be packaged in drum 20, because it does not need to have a large resistance since it rests on the inside of barrel 20, which is extremely robust and rigid and furthermore it is not intended to be reused.

The bag 10 should only be insensitive to accidental brutality which may be caused by handling and filling operations likely to cause cuts or tears.

If the bag 10 is well calibrated with respect to the barrel 20, there should be no movement relative to each other because the bag 10 is strongly applied against the walls 23 by the very weight of its content.

Referring to FIG. 3, we see a filling nozzle A which has been lowered in the container before the arrival of product B, in order to prevent it from coming violently against the bottom of the bag 10 still empty, because it could be suddenly dragged towards the bottom of the barrel, reason it is important to keep the bag 10 not only open but also at the right height.

As the level of product B rises in the container, the nozzle A is rise, as is well known per se, and the filling is stopped when the level of product has reached a value such that it is possible to fold the upper part of the bag 10 over itself and thus "close" the bag without sealing it, as shown in the figure 4, after which the cover 21 is put in place and fixed securely.

Folding the top of the bag 10 is useful to prevent chaos due to transport from causes product overflows out of the bag 10 and, therefore, into the barrel 20 but its sealing is unnecessary because the orientation of the bag 10 - barrel 20 assembly is not changed, since placing the bag, filling it, closing the barrel, transporting it, opening it and until the extraction of content B.

Another equivalent solution consists in leaving the edge of the bag 10 folded over the edge 24 of the was 20 and wedge it as well. The advantage of this solution is to simplify handling since when removing the cover 21, the bag 10 is already open.

On the other hand, the underside of the cover 21 can be soiled by splashes of product B, in which case a protective plastic sheet should be placed between the top of the product B and the underside of the cover 21.

The outside diameter of the cover 21 must be placed inside the barrel 20, it is necessary to hold account of the thickness (even minimal) of the bag 10 to avoid tearing of the latter by the cover 21 itself when it is put in place.

For certain products, it is possible to place a shim between the top of the closed bag 10 and the below the cover 21 in order to oppose the movements of the product B during transport.

As shown in Figure 4, the container according to the invention is ready to be stored then transported and delivered to the recipient.

Referring to Figure 5, we see how the finished container of Figure 4 is used.

It is transported to the place of use in its original orientation, which is symbolized by arrow F1, then remove the cover 21, then unfold the edges of the bag 10 which are flap on the outside of the barrel 20 over the edge 24, then plunge into the product B a cane suction C connected by a hose D to the inlet of a pump E. At the outlet of the latter, is connected a hose F leading to a gun G.

The installation by which product B is taken from inside the container is not part of the invention and what has just been described is purely indicative and relates essentially to the application of the invention to the installation of paints, coatings and coatings in the building, which is one possibility among others.

When the container no longer contains enough product B for it to be removed normally, we remove the suction rod C, then we extract the bag 10 according to arrow F2 (Figure 6) and it is brought, as evoked by the arrow F3, to a grille 30 comprising two rollers 31 and 32 set in motion by a crank 33.

We introduce the bag 10 through its bottom between the two rollers 31 and 32 and we act on the crank 33 to drive the rollers in the direction of the arrows F4 and F5, which forces the bag 10 to move according to arrow F6 and pass entirely between the rollers 31 and 32 whose spacing minimal causes crushing of the bag 10 and the energetic pushing of the remains of product B towards the mouth of bag 10, leftovers that are either left in the bottom of bag 10 fault to have been able to take them, either glued to the walls of the bag 10.

These remains are collected in a small container 34 to be used instead of being destroyed as is currently the case. For this, we can directly use these remains (at brush, roller or spatula in the case of remnants of a building product) or transfer them well into a bag 10 which has just been opened in order to recover them for use. The bag 10 which really contains nothing recoverable is eliminated according to the arrow symbolic F7.

The barrel 20 freed from the bag 10 has remained perfectly clean and can be reused indefinitely. He is given his cover 21 and it is returned according to arrow F8 to the place of filling for another use with a new bag 10 not yet used, because if the barrel still remains intact and available, bag 10 is used only once.

We observe that the recovery of the remains prevents waste but also helps to fight against pollution, because we no longer destroy the barrels and what they still contain more or less dangerous products, and that when the bags are destroyed, they do not contain only a tiny amount of these dangerous or harmful products.

The invention provides a specific provision when product B must be subjected to action an agitator, a mixer or a kneader.

This may be the case when product B is an unstable mixture, the components of which are separate and lay out, the heaviest products tend to fall to the bottom while the lighter components tend to float.

This is also the case when product B delivered in the container according to the invention is a standard base (for example white paint) to which dyes must be added on the site of use.

It is then necessary to use an agitator in order to homogenize the mixture well.

With a common barrel, the mixer is of common type, including a handle at the base of which is a propeller driven by a small electric motor.

This device cannot be easily used for a container in accordance with the invention because the agitator immersed in the mass of product B must be handled and moved towards the periphery where is the bag 10. It is perfectly adapted to isolate a product and is used in conditions such that it resists movements of product B but it is not designed to resist tears that the mixer propeller could cause when it comes in contact with him.

In order to be able to use both a container formed by an outer barrel 20 and an inner bag 10, and ensure good mixing, the invention provides a particular agitator which is shown in figure 7.

Naturally, this figure is schematic and deliberately generic because the invention applies to all agitators, whether purely manual or mechanical and have a moving or at least aggressive organ for the bag 10.

It can be seen that the agitator 40 represented comprises a central element, or handle, 41 carrying a electric motor 42 kinematically connected to an axis (not visible in the drawing) on which is propelled a propeller 43.

According to the invention, this propeller is surrounded by a protective element which is formed here of a fixed ring 44 disposed beyond the virtual circle traversed by the ends of the blades the propeller 43 in rotation and which is held in place by support arms 45 fixed to the handle 41.

Such a ring recalls that associated with boat propellers, as is known in oneself.

The height I of the ring must be sufficient for said ring 44 to abut against the bottom of the bag 10 and thus prevents any contact between the bottom of the bag 10 and the propeller 43 in rotation.

The bag 10 proper, along the cylindrical wall of the barrel 20, is also protected from any attack on the propeller 43 by the lateral surface of the ring 44 itself.

It is then possible to proceed with any desired mixing or kneading, without precaution particular, despite the presence of the fragile bag 10.

The protective element can be of any desired type different from the ring 44 described here. Through example, it can be a trellis or pierced bell, or several rings angularly offset, the important thing being to allow the movements of product B and simultaneously protect the bag 10.

Claims (6)

Process for the use of viscous products such as oils, greases, tars and bitumens, paints, coatings and coatings, providing for a waterproof bag placed in a rigid outer envelope characterized in that a waterproof and flexible bag is chosen (10) , of insufficient strength to be reusable and to withstand the forces due to the weight of the product (B) and / or to the storage and transport constraints, that the bag (10) is placed freely, that is to say without fixing it, in a rigid and robust protective envelope (20) for prolonged use but unsuitable for containing the product (B) repeatedly since it cannot be completely cleaned and rid of product remains (B), envelope (20) having a bottom (22), vertical walls (23) and an upper opening, the edge (24) of which is formed by the end of the walls (23), which the bag (10) is kept in the envelope (20 ) so that its edge (12) exceeds that of the edge (24), that the bag (10) is kept open, the product (B) is poured into the bag (10) to a level below that of the edge (24), and the edge (12) is folded ) of the bag (10) over the product (B) without closing the bag (10), then after possible storage, the bag (10) full - envelope (20) assembly is transported according to the orientation that this set had during its filling, up to a place of use of the product (B), where it is always left in the same orientation, then that the folds of the bag (10) are spread to give access to the product (B ) by the upper opening, which is taken from the product (B) in one or more times, in particular by pumping, until the bag (10) is practically empty, then the bag is removed ( 10) out of the envelope (20), that the flat bag (10) is passed, from its bottom, in a calender (30) in order to extract the rest of the product (B), this residue is collected in a container (34), which the bag (1 0) and that the envelope (20) is returned empty instead of placing a new bag (10) new for filling this new bag (10) and a new use. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that after having folded the edge (12) of the bag (10), a cover (21) is placed on the edge (24) of the envelope (20) to close it. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that after having transported the assembly (10-B-20) to the place of use of the product (B), the cover (21) is removed, the folds are removed from the bag (10), we immerse in the product (B) at least one rigid rod (C) connected to a pipe (D) leading to the inlet of a pump (E) whose outlet is connected to a hose (F ) fitted with a gun (G) or other means of distribution. Container for viscous products such as oils, greases, tars and bitumens, paints, coatings and coatings, comprising a bag in an outer envelope, characterized in that the bag (10), in particular made of synthetic material, is waterproof, flexible and has a insufficient strength to be reusable and to withstand the forces due to the weight of the product (B) and / or to storage and transport constraints, and in that the rigid and robust protective casing (20) is for prolonged use, having a bottom (22) and walls (23) limited by an upper edge (24) located in their extension, and whose height ( h ) is less than that (H) of the bag (10), so that the edge (12 ) of the bag (10) full of product (B) and placed in the envelope (20) can be folded over itself above the product (B) without closing or sealing, the envelope (20) being possibly associated to a removable cover (21). Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the envelope (20) is a metal barrel. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that it is associated on the one hand with a mixer (40) which is provided with a protective element (44) of soft shapes to be interposed between the mixer (40) proper and the bag (10), and on the other hand to a rod connected to a pump so that the contents (B) of the bag (10) can be extracted from the bag (10) by suction, without modifying the orientation of the assembly bag (10) - envelope (20).

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