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WO1998016435A1 - Recipients pour remplissage a chaud, avec meilleures capacites de chargement par le haut - Google Patents

Recipients pour remplissage a chaud, avec meilleures capacites de chargement par le haut Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998016435A1
WO1998016435A1 PCT/US1997/017806 US9717806W WO9816435A1 WO 1998016435 A1 WO1998016435 A1 WO 1998016435A1 US 9717806 W US9717806 W US 9717806W WO 9816435 A1 WO9816435 A1 WO 9816435A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
ribs
diameter
set forth
reduced diameter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/017806
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kevin D. Gaydosh
Richard J. Steih
Michael T. Lane
Original Assignee
Schmalbach-Lubeca Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schmalbach-Lubeca Ag filed Critical Schmalbach-Lubeca Ag
Priority to US09/180,316 priority Critical patent/US6016932A/en
Priority to BR9712322-6A priority patent/BR9712322A/pt
Priority to AU47434/97A priority patent/AU4743497A/en
Publication of WO1998016435A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998016435A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B65D2501/0027—Hollow longitudinal ribs

Definitions

  • T e present invention relates to thin walled containers for the storage of liquids. More particularly, this invention relates to blow molded, plastic containers capable of being filled with a liquid while the liquid is at a temperature elevated above the ambient temperature, configured to accommodate a partial vacuum formed within the container during cooling of the liquid after filling and capping, and configured to exhibit enhanced top load capabilities.
  • plastic containers have been used to contain liquids that were initially filled while chilled or at ambient temperatures.
  • plastic containers have been developed which can be used to contain liquids, such as processed fruit juices and the like, which are pasteurized and must be filled into the container while still hot and near pasteurized.
  • Containers of this type are generally known as "hot-fill" containers and have become well known. Examples are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,805,788 and 4,863,046.
  • Hot-fill conditions impose mechanical stresses on the container structure which differ from those stresses imposed during non-hot-fill applications. These additional mechanical stresses cause the material forming the container to be less resistant to deformation when hot-filling both during and after. When subjected to the stresses of hot filing, conventional containers deform or collapse.
  • the material forming the container is heat treated or "heat set" to produce a container having better thermal stability.
  • Heat setting of the container generally increases the crystallinity of the container, without adversely affecting the container appearance, and increases the strength and durability of the container.
  • hot-fill containers are generally provided with structural panels in the container side wall in order to fully accommodate volumetric shrinkages as the liquid cools.
  • the vacuum panels themselves collapse or flex inwardly to accommodate the liquid as it shrinks in response to cooling. This inwardly flexing of the vacuum panels, however, creates additional undesirable stress points, particularly in the corners of the panels.
  • Containers of the above type have exhibited a limited ability to withstand top loading during filling, capping and stacking for transporting of the containers Overcoming these problems is important because it would decrease the likelihood of a container's top or shoulder being crushed, as well as inhibiting ova zation in this area Obviously, it is important to be able to stack containers so as to maximize the use of shipping space It also enhances the ability to lightweight the container
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a number of structural reinforcements in the waste region of the container to resist deformation of the container resulting from top loading
  • a thin walled plastic container adapted to be filled with a liquid at a temperature elevated above room temperature
  • the container includes an upper portion, as waist region, a middle portion and a lower portion
  • the upper portion forms the top of the container and further includes a mouth, a neck and what is herein referred to as a shoulder or bulb
  • the mouth defines an opening into the container through which the container is filled and emptied Threads are formed on the exterior of the neck for receiving a closure cap and sealing the container
  • the bulb Extending downward from the neck and generally increasing in diameter relative to the neck, is the bulb, which may be of a single or double-bulb design
  • the middle portion defines the generally cylindrical side wall of the container
  • the shape of the side wall is such that it will accommodate the effects of a decrease in internal pressure within the container as the liquid cools
  • the waist region is located between the upper and middle portions of the container and unitanly connects these two portions together
  • the lower portion closes and forms the bottom of the container This portion is unitanly formed with a lower periphery of the side wall
  • upright ribs are formed in the waist region and extend between the upper and middle portions or, more specifically, the bulb and the side wall of the container. In another embodiment, upright ribs are formed in the upper portion of the container, between the bulbs of a double-bulb shoulder portion The ribs provide structural reinforcement to the container and allow it to exhibit an increased top loading capacity This in turn provides the container a greater ability to withstand filling, capping, labeling, stacking and impact loads applied to the top of the container
  • FIG 1 is a side elevational view of a container embodying the principles of the present invention
  • FIG 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG 1 further showing the waist ribs of the present invention
  • FIG 3 is a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG 4 is a side elevational view of the container seen in FIG 3
  • FIG 5 is a top plan view of the container seen in FIGS 3 and 4
  • FIG 6 is a partial sectional view through the container of FIG 4 as generally taken along lines 6-6
  • FIG 1 a container, designated at 10, embodying the principles of the present invention
  • the container includes an upper portion 12, a middle portion 14, a waste region 16 and a bottom portion 18
  • the container 10 is preferably formed by a blow molding process which imparts both axial and radial elongation and orientation into the plastic forming the container 10
  • Numerous different plastics can be used to form the container 10, including but not limited to the broad class of polyester, polyethylene terepthalate (PET) and polyethylene napthalate (PEN)
  • PET polyethylene terepthalate
  • PEN polyethylene napthalate
  • the container 10 is preferably heat set through a heat treating process to enhance the thermal stability of the container 10
  • the upper portion 12 includes a mouth 20 which defines an opening 22 into the interior of the container 10 Filling and emptying of the contents of the container 10 are both performed through this opening 22 Immediately adjacent to the mouth 20 is the neck 24 Threads 26 are formed, at least partially, around the outer circumference of the neck 24 The threads 26 are capable of receiving a corresponding threaded closure cap (not shown) which seals the container after filling
  • a radial flange 28, sometimes referred to as a finger ring allows a person to support
  • the upper portion 12 transitions into one embodiment of what has herein been referred to as a shoulder, bulb or domed portion 30
  • the bulb 30 extends downward from the neck 24 and generally increases in diameter as it proceeds away from the neck 24 While shown having a domed configuration, the bulb 30 can be provided with numerous alternative configurations and need not be either "bulbed” or “domed” Alternative shapes for the bulb 30 should therefore be considered as being encompassed by the present invention
  • the middle portion 14 of the container 10 defines a generally cylindrical side wall 32 Formed in the side wall 32 are a plurality of vacuum panels 34
  • the vacuum panels 34 are configured to accommodate the negative pressures which are generated within the container 10 as a result of the cooling of the hot-filled liquid
  • the vacuum panels 34 are shown as generally rectangular panels being equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the side wall 32 and separated by substantially vertical ends 36
  • the panels 34 themselves include a generally recessed first portion 38 In the middle of this first recessed portion 38 is a raised second or panel portion 40 While a specific configuration for the vacuum panels 34 is illustrated, it will be understood that the actual configuration of each vacuum panel 34 can vary from that illustrated and that the panels 34, if properly designed, need not be equidistantly spaced about the circumference of the side wall 32 Thus, the only requirement in this regard with respect to the present invention is that the container be capable of withstanding the resulting negative pressures from both a functional and aesthetic view point
  • the lower portion 18 of the container 10 defines the bottom of the container and closes off this portion of the container 10
  • a bottom 50 is therefore unitanly formed with a lower periphery 52 of the side wall 32 in order to close off the bottom of the container 10
  • the bulb 30 and the side wall 32 are unitanly formed with one another in what is referred to as the waste region 16
  • the waste region 16 can generally be described as a circumferential recess or annular groove 42 formed between the lower periphery of the bulb 30 and the upper periphery of the side wall 32
  • These lower and upper circumferential peripheries are each represented in FIGS 1 and 2 as a slight ridge and are respectively designated at 44 and 46
  • Extending generally upright or vertically between the upper and lower circumferential ridges 44 and 46 are a series of reinforcement webs or ribs 48.
  • four ribs 48 are shown and each of the ribs is equidistantly located about the circumference of the container 10 in the waste region 16.
  • a greater number or lesser number of ribs 48 could alternatively be provided and it is anticipated, depending on the attributes of the specific container, that the ribs 48 need not to be equidistantly spaced about the container 10.
  • the ribs 48 are shown in a construction which provides them as a hollow, generally U-shaped (in cross sectional shape) support between the upper and lower portions 12 and 14 of the container 10. As seen in FIG. 2, the ribs 48 are oriented such that the open portion of the U-shape is toward the interior of the container 10. It should be noted, however, that the ribs 48 need not be limited to the illustrated hollow construction, cross sectional shape or orientation.
  • the ribs 48 could alternatively be provided as other structures with other shapes. For example, the ribs could be provided as solid structures and having a rectangular cross sectional shape.
  • FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention in which numerous features and elements are the same as those found in the previously discussed embodiment. For this reason, features common to both embodiments are designated with like item numbers and are not being further discussed.
  • the container 10' of the second embodiment differs from the container 10' of the first embodiment in the shape of the shoulder portion 12' and the location of the ribs 48'.
  • the shoulder portion 12' is provided as a double-bulb portion with an upper bulb 30' and a lower bulb 30".
  • the upper bulb 30' is located generally adjacent to the neck 24 of the container 10', while the lower bulb 30" is located adjacent to the waist region 16.
  • a transition portion 31 having a reduced diameter relative to the upper and lower bulbs 30'and 30", unitariiy interconnects the upper and lower bulbs 30' and 30". While illustrated and discussed as having a reduced diameter relative to the bulbs 30' and 30", it is believed possible for the transition portion 31 to have a diameter which approximates that of the upper bulb 30'.
  • the transition portion 31 generally forms and can be seen as a recessed annular groove between the upper bulb 30' and the lower bulb 30".
  • ribs 48' Located in the area of the transition portion 31 are a series of generally upright or vertical ribs 48'.
  • the ribs 48' are hollow, as seen in FIG. 6, and extend longitudinally between the upper bulb 30' and the lower bulb 30" while protruding outward from the transition portion 31.
  • the ribs 48' are also generally U-shaped with their open end being directed toward the interior of the container 10'.
  • the ribs 48' are equidistantly located about the transition portion 31 of the container 10' and an odd number of ribs 48' are provided in the illustrated embodiment. Providing the ribs 48' in this manner results in no two ribs 48' being located in a common plane through the longitudinal axis of the container. This in turn decreases the likelihood that the upper portion 12' of the container 10' will "kink" or bend over as a result of a top load or impact load being applied to the container 10'. In the illustrated embodiment, seven ribs 48' are provided on the container 10' with more or less also being within the purview of the invention.
  • the ribs 48'could alternatively be provided in an even number and positioned so that two opposing ribs would be located in a common plane through the longitudinal axis of the container 10'.
  • the ribs 48' operate to reinforce the transitional portion 31 and increase this area's resistance to deformation from top loads. Accordingly, the top load capacity of the container 10' is increased.
  • the provision of the ribs 48' in this area inhibits ovalization of the transition portion 31 during the hot filling process itself. Obviously, this is an additional enhancement to the container.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un récipient en plastique (10) à parois minces, fabriqué selon un procédé de moulage par soufflage et destiné à être rempli d'un liquide dont la température est supérieure à la température ambiante. Le récipient (10) comprend une première partie (30') ayant un premier diamètre, une seconde partie (30') ayant un second diamètre, et une zone à diamètre réduit (31) située entre la première et la seconde partie. La zone à diamètre réduit (31) s'étend circonférentiellement autour du récipient, et une pluralité de côtes (48') s'étendent entre la première et la seconde partie. Les côtes forment des éléments de renforcement dans la zone à diamètre réduit (31) et augmentent les capacités de remplissage par le haut du récipient. La première et la seconde partie peuvent être formées dans la partie épaule du récipient, ou bien l'une dans la partie épaule et l'autre dans la partie paroi latérale du récipient.
PCT/US1997/017806 1995-05-31 1997-10-03 Recipients pour remplissage a chaud, avec meilleures capacites de chargement par le haut WO1998016435A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/180,316 US6016932A (en) 1995-05-31 1997-10-03 Hot fill containers with improved top load capabilities
BR9712322-6A BR9712322A (pt) 1996-10-15 1997-10-03 Recipientes de conte·do quente com capacidades de carga superior aperfeiçoadas
AU47434/97A AU4743497A (en) 1996-10-15 1997-10-03 Hot fill containers with improved top load capabilities

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72986496A 1996-10-15 1996-10-15
US08/729,864 1996-10-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998016435A1 true WO1998016435A1 (fr) 1998-04-23

Family

ID=24932946

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/017806 WO1998016435A1 (fr) 1995-05-31 1997-10-03 Recipients pour remplissage a chaud, avec meilleures capacites de chargement par le haut

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AR (1) AR008669A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU4743497A (fr)
BR (1) BR9712322A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998016435A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006041856A1 (fr) * 2004-10-04 2006-04-20 Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc. Recipient plastique a remplissage a chaud et procede de fabrication

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3536500A (en) * 1966-09-23 1970-10-27 Dow Chemical Co Packaged food
US5067622A (en) * 1989-11-13 1991-11-26 Van Dorn Company Pet container for hot filled applications
US5244614A (en) * 1991-09-26 1993-09-14 Basf Corporation Process of making multicomponent trilobal fiber

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3536500A (en) * 1966-09-23 1970-10-27 Dow Chemical Co Packaged food
US5067622A (en) * 1989-11-13 1991-11-26 Van Dorn Company Pet container for hot filled applications
US5244614A (en) * 1991-09-26 1993-09-14 Basf Corporation Process of making multicomponent trilobal fiber

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006041856A1 (fr) * 2004-10-04 2006-04-20 Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc. Recipient plastique a remplissage a chaud et procede de fabrication
US7258244B2 (en) 2004-10-04 2007-08-21 Graham Packaging Company L.P. Hot-fill plastic container and method of manufacture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4743497A (en) 1998-05-11
AR008669A1 (es) 2000-02-09
BR9712322A (pt) 1999-08-31

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