Composite container and method for manufacturing same ("Multi-Layer Preform")

• US 20110024450A1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dispensing Technologies BV
• Original Assignee: Dispensing Technologies BV
• Inventors: Van Wijk, Dominicus Jan, Snijders, Josephus Cornelius, Maas, Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/95
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/08 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/072 having variable wall thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/073 having variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/077 characterised by the neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/078 characterised by the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/22 at neck portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/24 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/26 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/28 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3009 partially
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3012 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3016 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/302 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3024 characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3026 having two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3028 having three or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3032 having components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3034 having two or more components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3036 : having three or more components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3094 : preform having at least partially loose components, e.g. at least partially loose layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/02 : Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 : Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5057 : positioned between the surfaces to be joined B29C65/5035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/52 : characterised by the way of applying the adhesive B29C65/50 takes precedence; apparatus for applying liquids in general B05C; processes for applying liquids in general B05D
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/52272 : concentrically, e.g. for forming multilayer tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 : joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 : one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/712 : the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 : being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 : Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 : Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 : Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/001 : the layers being loose
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7156 : Pressure vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/02 : Linings or internal coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/14 : Linings or internal coatings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/56 ; linings for domestic water storage heaters F24H1/183
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 : Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0827 : Bags in box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A composite container, comprising a form-retaining outer container and a flexible inner container is presented. The inner container comprises a dispensing opening and can be mounted in a neck of the outer container, and the inner container is further connected to the outer container by an adhesive or weld connection over a portion of its periphery. The adhesive or weld connection can take the form of a ring adhesion or weld extending transversely to a central longitudinal axis of the container, or can cover the entire surface area of a defined portion of the respective inner container and outer container walls, such as, for example, the upper one-half of the container. The adhesion or weld can be substantially permanent, or alternatively, the adhesive or weld connection can be adapted to detach in controlled manner under the influence of pressures occurring in the container. Additionally, a method for manufacturing such a composite container is also presented, including forming a form-retaining outer container pre-form comprising a neck, forming a flexible inner container pre-form comprising a dispensing opening, inserting the inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form and fixing said inner container pre-form to the neck of the outer-container pre-form. If the two containers are to be connected by adhesive, then prior to inserting the inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form, a glue or adhesive can be applied either to the outer surface of the inner container pre-form or to the inner surface of the outer container pre-form, defining a portion of the surface area of the inner and outer containers where they will be connected. Once the two pre-forms are assembled, the composite container can be blown to full size under significant pressures, and the inner container becomes connected to the outer container over the defined portion of their periphery (e.g., their upper halves) by the adhesive spreading under such pressure, or by welding, into an air-tight seal. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the remaining portion of the inner container pre-form can be coated with an anti-stick coating prior to insertion into the outer container pre-form, so as to facilitate motion of the remaining portion of the flexible inner container relative to the outer container. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in operation, under pressure supplied by a displacing medium, the non-adhering portion of the inner container moves upwards within the outer container in a piston-like motion so as to dispense a product provided inside it, until it has completely folded on itself so that it its inner wall fully contacts the inner wall of the adhering portion of the inner container.

Claims

15-1. The composite container of claim 1, wherein the inner container and the outer container are each pre-formed by injection-molding and wherein after blow molding are brought to their final form by welding the inner container to the outer container.

16. A method for manufacturing a composite container, comprising:

forming a form-retaining outer container pre-form comprising a neck,

forming at least one flexible inner container pre-form comprising a dispensing opening, and

inserting the at least one inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form and fixing said inner container to said neck,

blow molding the combined inner container pre-form and outer container pre-form; and

connecting the inner container pre-form and outer container pre-form over at least a part of their upper surface area via adhesion or welding.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inner container pre-form is connected to the outer container pre-form via an adhesive, and wherein said adhesive is sprayed onto at least one of (i) the outer surface of the inner container pre-form and (ii) the inner surface of the outer container pre-form, prior to the insertion of the inner container perform into the outer container pre-form.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the composite container pre-form is blow molded to reach its final size.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein when said composite container pre-form is blow molded the adhesive spreads between the inner container and the outer container throughout said at least a part of their upper surface area as a thin layer to form an air tight seal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein in said blow molding the inner container and outer container are pressed together under pressure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said pressure is between 25 and 40 bar.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said adhesion or welding is one of (i) essentially permanent and (ii) adapted to detach in controlled manner under the influence of pressures occurring in the container.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the outer container pre-form and the inner container pre-form are recessed.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein an adhesive is evenly distributed throughout the recess, during placing of the inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form and blowing of the pre-forms to full size.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein a secondary inner container pre-form is provided within the inner container pre-form.