Opening and/or closing device for a sealed packaging, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs

Abstract

The opening/closing device of a sealed packaging, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs, includes a piercing device, as well as a plugging structure through which the packaging can be pierced. The packing can be re-closed after piercing, after removing the piercing device so as to avoid any contact between the inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium. The plugging structure is formed of two elements, arranged at the wall of the packaging, and slaved to one another, whereas the first element is fitted with a thermoplastic material which may be re-closed after piercing, the second element having a spreading mechanism to create a vacuum chamber at the piercing device.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an opening and/or closing device for a sealed packaging, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although provided more particularly for sealed packagings intended for the preservation of agro food stuffs, it may also be used for packaging any other type of product.

Applications wherein opening and closing a packaging require particular precautions aiming in particular at avoiding any contact between the contents or the inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium, are known.

Among such applications, opening and closing a sealed packaging intended for the preservation of agro foodstuffs after thermal treatment thereof may be mentioned. It is known that after thermal treatment, certain foodstuffs ooze a baking juice or exudate which ought to be removed from the packaging before marketing the product. It is also known that it may prove useful, if not necessary, to check during or after the thermal treatment certain data such as temperature or microbial composition of the product contained in the packaging.

For both reasons aforementioned, and also for other reasons such as possible injection of additional products into the packaging, it is necessary to still be able to access the products contained in the packaging.

Consequently, taking into account the nature of the products, it is not possible for sanitary reasons to let the inside medium of the packaging contact the surrounding medium when opening, then to make the packaging airtight again when closing.

Currently, a solution to remedy this problem consists in a first step in opening the sealed packaging and in extracting the products, then in reconditioning said products in a second sealed packaging. As regards the monitoring of data such as the temperature on the product contained in the packaging, the technique used consists in taking a reference sample which is perforated and whereof the content is probed, serving as a reference for the other packagings, but which cannot be reused, since it has been perforated and has contacted the surrounding medium, and consequently said product will be wasted.

Among the applications requiring particular precautions when opening and closing packagings, other applications may be mentioned, such as in the medical field, the suction of a pre-set dose of liquid contained in a vial by means of a syringe enabling notably to avoid any contact between the sucked-in liquid and the surrounding medium. In such an application, the packaging is perforated by a syringe needle and said dose is sucked in entirely into said syringe, thereby avoiding any contact between the sucked-in liquid and the surrounding medium, and the empty vial is then thrown away.

This solution exhibits however several shortcomings and in particular the packaging cannot be re-used, which causes generally costly product losses.

Besides, it has been known since the document EP-1.312.556 an opening/closing device of a sealed packaging, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs, which remedies the shortcomings aforementioned and which enables to open, then to close the sealed packaging, without the inside medium contacting the surrounding medium. According to such document, the opening/closing device comprises means for piercing the wall of said packaging and plugging through which the packaging can be pierced. Said plugging means may be re-closed after piercing, after removing the piercing means so as to avoid any contact between the inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium.

However, such device also exhibits certain shortcomings, in particular as regarding the withdrawal of the liquid and the risk of perforating the packaging.

The aim of the present invention, which an improvement on the invention described in the document EP-1.312.566, is to provide an opening and/or closing device for a sealed packaging, intended in particular for preservation of agro foodstuffs, which remedies the shortcomings aforementioned and enables to withdraw or to inject liquids, semi-liquids or gases, such as nitrogen and/or steam, outside or inside the packaging, without the inside medium contacting the surrounding medium.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing device for a sealed packaging, intended in particular for preservation of agro foodstuffs, which enables to obtain data on the inside medium of the packaging, without the inside medium contacting the surrounding medium.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a reliable opening/closing device and whereof the implementation is easy, while avoiding notably any undue risks of perforation.

Other aims and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description. solely given by way of example and without being limited thereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the opening/closing device of a sealed packaging, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs, exhibiting piercing means, as well as plugging means, through which the packaging can be pierced, and which can be re-closed after piercing, after removing the piercing means so as to avoid any contact between the inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium, is characterized in that said plugging means are formed of two elements, arranged at the wall of said packaging, and slaved to one another, whereas the first element is fitted with a thermoplastic material which may be re-closed after piercing, the second element having spreading means to create a vacuum chamber at the piercing means.

The present invention also concerns a packaging fitted with the plugging means described in the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described better when reading the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the opening/closing device of a sealed packaging according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate sectional views of the different opening/closing steps of the sealed packaging.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded sectional view of the opening/closing device of the present invention prior to be slaved to the sealed packaging to be fitted.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along the axis VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along the axis VII-VII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom elevation view along the arrow VIII of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show perspective views of an opening/closing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns first of all en opening/closing device 12 of a sealed packaging 10, intended in particular for the preservation of agro foodstuffs. However, such device also applies to sealed packagings intended to any other product and for example to the preservation of pharmaceutical or chemical products.

As represented more particularly on FIG. 1, the opening/closing device 12 of a sealed packaging 10 comprises means 8 for piercing the wall 3 of said packaging 10. The opening/closing device 12 also comprises plugging means 13 through which the packaging 10 is pierced, and which may be re-closed after piercing once the piercing means 8 have been withdrawn so as to avoid any contact between the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the surrounding medium.

According to the invention, said plugging means 13 are formed of two elements 1, 2, each in the form of a cage, notably a cylindrical cage, arranged at the wall 3 of said packaging 1a, and slaved together. The first element 1, as developed thereunder, is filled with a thermoplastic material which may be re-closed after piercing. The second element 2 exhibits spreading means to create a vacuum chamber at the piecing means.

It should be noted here that according to the present invention, indifferently, both said functional element may be substantially formed of two independent parts, slaved together during moulding, at the packaging to be fitted, or still formed of a single monobloc part.

Besides, in the case of rigid packagings, where the risks of perforation induced by the needle 25, as mentioned later on, are nil, said element 1 may be used without said element 2.

In the embodiment shown on FIGS. 2 to 4, illustrating notably an embodiment of the two part plugging means 13, said first element 1, called plugging element, is placed on the external side of the packaging 10 and said second element 2, called vacuum element or strainer, is placed on the internal side, whereas both said elements 1,2 sandwiching, in an embodiment, the wall 3 of said packaging 10 as such. therebetween.

According to another embodiment, the fixture may also be provided on the internal or external face of the wall 3 of the packaging. In such a case, the element 2 is clamped beforehand to the element 1 before welding the assembly to the packaging 10.

When the fixture is provided on the internal or external face of the wall 3 of the packaging 10, it is necessary to cut out the wall 3 to let through the element 1 respectively, toward the outside of the packaging 10 or the element 2 inwardly thereof.

According to a particular embodiment, as illustrated on FIGS. 5 to 8, said vacuum element or strainer 2, exhibits a cylindrical body fitted with a closed bottom 15 and with at least one hole 11 on the lateral wall thereof. This exhibits, on the one hand, to form a barrier to prevent solid pieces from clogging the piercing means 8, while letting the liquid flow freely, and on the other hand, to avoid unwanted piercing of both sheets of the packaging.

Slaving said plugging elements 1 and vacuum elements 2, when they are independent against one another, is made notably by gluing, welding or clamping. Consequently, any other means known to the man of the art in the fastening field may be contemplated.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated on FIGS. 9 and 10, said plugging means 13 may be formed of a single monobloc-type part 28, which may be attached to the internal 29 or external 30 face of the wall 3 of the packaging 10. The functions described in connection with the plugging means 13 formed of two independent parts remain similar.

One of the advantages of the use of such type of plugging means 13 in the form of a single part 28 is to enable welding, in particular, between the part 28 and the wall 3 of the packaging 10 in a single pass. Welding may be performed either between the surface 32 of the skid 33 and the surface 30 of the wall 3 of the packaging 10, as shown on FIG. 9, or between the surface 31 of the skid 33 and the surface 29 of the wall 3 of the packaging 10, as shown on FIG. 19. In other words, the skid 33 may be placed either inside or outside the packaging.

In the embodiment illustrated on the Figures, said plugging means 13 include, moreover, at least one thermoplastic material advantageously of elastomer type, intended in particular at said so-called plugging element 1.

This thermoplastic material should exhibit specific characteristics enabling when said plugging means 13 are pierced, to re-close the holes made.

To do so, said at least one material used should exhibit high elasticity coefficient and also average hardness so that said plugging means 13 exhibit good handling and that the hole is re-closed instantly, i.e. at no time the surrounding medium contacts the inside medium of the packaging 10.

After the different tests, it has been noticed that a material exhibiting elasticity coefficients ranging between 600 and 700%, possibly between 550 and 650%, as well as a hardness ranging between 35 and 55 Shores. possibly between 55 and 90 Shores, is particularly suited to form said plugging means 13.

In the case of an application of a sealed packaging 10 intended for the preservation of agro foodstuffs, a thermoplastic material formed of a matter marketed under the trade name “VITAPRENNE” will be selected advantageously, said material exhibiting a Shore hardness close to 41 and an elongation coefficient close to 50%, the wall of the sealed packaging 10 being formed of a polyethylene film associated with polyamide. the latter being used as a barrier film against gas.

Consequently, this example is obviously non-restrictive, it is possible to use materials marketed under the trade names “SANTOPRENE” and “SANDOZ” with similar hardness and elongation coefficient characteristics.

In the embodiment shown on FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the plugging element 1, in the form of a cage, exhibits in succession a first external skid 4, a hollow zone 6, delineated by a wall 5 in order to receive a disk 7 therein, and an opening 21. The decompression element 2, in the form of a cage, exhibits successively a second skid 4′, said bottom 15 and at least one of said holes 11 on its lateral wall.

The element 1 may exhibit moreover four anchoring points in its periphery (not illustrated). These anchoring points enable the needle 25 on the one hand to be held against the bottom of the element 2 for the whole intervention in the packaging 10 and on the other hand to ensure that the hole 9 of the needle 25 is always in the axis of the holes 11. This anchoring system also enables not to exert loads onto the packaging 10 when the plugging means 7 is perforated. The hollow zone 6 is limited in its lower portion by an internal annular shoulder 27 so as to delineate the deformation of the disk 7 when it is perforated by the needle 25. The perforation is performed by the hole 26 whereof the diameter may vary between 5 and 10 mm, advantageously 8 mm.

According to the invention, said plugging element 1 is capable of receiving said disk 7, as illustrated on FIGS. 2 to 5, of said thermoplastic material and the front opening 21 is capable of authorizing on the one hand insertion of said disk 7 and on the other hand of being held crimped in said element 1.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, it can be seen that the disk 7 is circumscribed by said wall 5 so that said wall 5 forms a circling, possibly a crimping, of the disk 7.

The so-called decompression element 2 is capable of forming a stop for the piercing means and a non-compressible internal volume.

This element 2 forms thus a strainer or still a filter placed on the suction portion in order to prevent, for example, the wall of the packaging from pressing on the suction port of the needle and from clogging the suction system.

Moreover, as illustrated on FIG. 3, said skids 4, 4′ are intended to cooperate with the wall 3 of the packaging 10. In this view, each skid 4, 4′ will exhibit an annular groove 23 and a shoulder 22 matching on the one hand the marking of both elements 1, 2 and on the other hand the positioning thereof.

The dimensions of the plugging means 13 are determined in order on the one hand to be sufficient to enable easy positioning of the piercing means 8 and on the other hand relatively small so as to require minimum material whereof the cost is high.

Good results have been obtained with a diameter ranging between 15 mm and 25 mm and a thickness ranging between 8 and 15 mm.

It should be again noted here that the provisions regarding the plugging means 13, relative to the embodiment with two separate elements, can be transposed mutatis mutandis to the embodiment with a single monobloc element, as illustrated on FIG. 9 or 10.

In the examples illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 4, said piercing means 8 are formed of a needle 25 comprising a port 9 at the part piercing the wall 3 of said packaging 10. The shape of said needle 25 enables notably insertion of said injection and/or suction means, injection and/or suction of liquids, semi-liquids and gases, such as nitrogen and/or steam through said port 9. Indeed, said port 9 enables contact between the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the inside of said needle 25.

To prevent the inside medium of the packaging 10 from contacting the surrounding medium, said needle 25 contains only one opening formed by said port 9. This port 9 intended to avoid any contact between the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the surrounding medium has set dimensions so that, during perforation, the port cannot put in contact the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the surrounding medium.

Thus, for example in the case of a perforation perpendicular to the plane delineated by said wall, the dimension of said port 9 according to the axis of perforation is smaller than the total width of said plugging means 13 and the wall 3 of said packaging 10.

In an embodiment variation, it is also possible to contemplate a port 9 provided with opening/closing means, the port 9 then being plugged when the port lies outside the packaging, and is opened when the port lies inside the packaging.

The present invention also concerns a packaging 10 fitted with plugging means 13 as mentioned above.

The present invention also concerns an installation for implementing such packagings. wherein are provided at said piercing means 8, injection and/or suction means enabling to inject and/or to suck in liquids, semi-liquids and gases, such as nitrogen and/or steam, in and/or outside the packaging preventing any contact between the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the surrounding medium.

The use of steam for a few seconds between each suction enables to avoid cross contaminations. Injecting nitrogen into the packaging, previously under vacuum, enables to inflate the packaging and to concentrate the liquids by gravity around the opening/closing device 12. The packaging is placed under vacuum again by sucking nitrogen.

The invention may also provide, at said piercing means, a sensor enabling to obtain data on the inside medium of the packaging 10.

With reference to the illustrations of FIGS. 2 to 4, the operation of the opening/closing device 12 is as follows. In a first step, represented on FIG. 2, said piercing means 8 formed in the example by the hollow needle 25 are positioned preferably vertically to said plugging means 13.

In a second step, said plugging means 13 and the wall 3 of the packaging 10 are pierced. At this stage, it may be noted that the wall 3 is broken. It is also clear that said plugging means 13 formed of said elements 1 and 2 are pierced.

Taking into account the physical features of the material used for said disk 7, the rim 7a of the disk 7 rests against the edges of said needle 25 thereby avoiding any contact between the inside medium of the packaging 10 and the surrounding medium.

At this stage, illustrated on FIG. 3, the port 9 of said needle 25 is in contact with the inside medium of the packaging 10 through the holes 11 of the element 2, it is also possible to suck in or to inject liquids, semi-liquids and/or gases, such as nitrogen or steam, from the injection and/or suction means 19. It is also possible at this stage, by means of said sensor 17, to obtain data on the inside medium of the packaging 10 and in particular temperature measurements.

At this stage, it is important to put in evidence that to guarantee proper sealing of the packaging 10, it is advantageous to select for the needle a diameter representing approximately a quarter, possible from a quarter to a sixth, of the diameter of the washer.

For exemplification purposes, according to a first embodiment, the needle 25 has a diameter of 5 mm and delineates an internal conduit of 3 mm in diameter, and the washer has a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. By way of example, the injection and/suction means 19 enable sucking in one liter of liquid within 45 seconds. The suction speed depends obviously on the viscosity of the liquid to be injected or sucked in.

According to a second embodiment, the needle 25 has a diameter of 4 mm and delineates an internal conduit of 2 mm in diameter, and the washer has a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. The injection and/suction means 19 enable sucking in one liter of liquid within one minute.

The selection of the dimensions of the needle 25 and of the plugging means 13 will be determined generally on the one hand by the time available for the injection and/or suction operations, and on the other hand, by the quantities of liquids and semi-liquids to be injected to sucked in.

In a third step, with reference to FIG. 4, said needle 25 has been extracted from said packaging 10. It appears then that said packaging 10 remains pierced. When removing the needle 25, the side 7a created by piercing said element 7 matches the shape of the needle 25, when the former is removed, the sides 7a touch one another and the piercing is closed instantly, since the sides are glued together again thanks to the material(s) used for the washer 7. Thus, at no time, the inside medium of the packaging 10 has been in contact with the surrounding medium.

At this stage, it should be noted that, when the sealed packaging 10 is a vacuum packaging, said side 7a is, when withdrawing said needle 25, sucked in towards the inside of said packaging 10, such suction ensures even greater tightness.

Thanks to the depression and to the material of the washer 7, there is a kind of self-plugging. It will be noted that this effect is still reinforced by the presence of the ring 5 compressing radially the material of the disk 7.

This device thus dispenses, notably in the case when it is intended for the preservation of agro foodstuffs. with extracting the products. the with re-conditioning them, and enables to use only one packaging, which confers this device significant ecological and economic advantage relative to the devices known.

Obviously, other embodiments of the device could have been contemplated by the man of the art without departing from the object of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An opening/closing device of a sealed packaging, intended in particular for preservation of agro foodstuffs, comprising:

a piercing means; and

a plugging means through which the packaging is pierced, said packaging being re-closable after piercing, after removing the piercing means so as to avoid any contact between an inside medium of the packaging and a surrounding medium,

wherein said plugging means is comprised of two elements, arranged at a wall of said packaging, and slaved to one another, a first element being fitted with a thermoplastic material re-closable after piercing, a second element having a spreading means to create a vacuum chamber at the piercing means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first element is placed on an external side of the packaging and said second element is placed on an internal side, and wherein both elements sandwich the wall of said packaging therebetween or attach to an internal or external face of said wall.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said two elements are independent and slaved to one another by gluing or welding or clamping.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said plugging means is comprised of a single monobloc-type part attached to the internal or external face of the wall of the packaging.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second element has a closed bottom and at least one hole on a lateral wall thereof.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said plugging means is comprised of two elements in a form of a cage, said cage having a diameter ranging between 15 mm and 25 mm and thickness ranging between 8 and 15 mm.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said plugging means is comprised of a first element, in a form of a cage, having an external skid cooperating with the wall of the packaging and a hollow zone defined by a wall in order to receive a disk.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said plugging means is comprised of a second element, in a form of a cage, having an external skid cooperating with the wall of the packaging and at least one lateral port, the cage forming a stop for the piercing means and a non-compressible internal volume.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the plugging means, in a form of a cage, having an external skid cooperating with the wall of the packaging, is further comprised of a front opening, the cage being able to contain a disk of said thermoplastic material, the front opening being able to authorize insertion of said disk and maintenance thereof, crimped in said cage.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said piercing means is comprised of a needle having a port at a part piercing the wall of said packaging.

11. A packaging fitted with the plugging means according to claim 1.

12. An installation designed for implementing a packaging according to claim 11, further comprising:

at said piercing means, an injection and/or suction means enabling to inject and/or to suck in liquids, semi-liquids and gases, such as nitrogen and/or steam, in and/or outside the packaging preventing any contact between tho inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium.

13. An installation designed for implementing a packaging according to claim 11, further comprising:

at said piercing means, a sensor enabling to obtain data on the inside medium of the packaging while preventing any contact between the inside medium of the packaging and the surrounding medium.