AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR OPENING AND EMPTYING A CONTAINER, AND A USE OF AN APPARATUS

Abstract: An apparatus (1, 22) for opening and emptying a container (17), which container comprises a spigot sealed with a member comprising a seal membrane, comprises a socket (3) adapted for receiving said spigot and for supporting said container, a cutting device (23) adapted for piercing said section and for making a cut therein, a first drive means (10) for moving said socket relative to said cutting means in order to produce a cut in said seal membrane, which clears substantially the entire lumen of said spout. The invention further provides a method of opening and emptying a container.

Description: An apparatus and a method for opening and emptying a container, and a use of an apparatus The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for opening and emptying a container. The invention more particularly relates to the field of opening and emptying containers holding powdered or particulate matter, and still more specifically to the field of handling of photographic chemicals. The invention further relates to the use of an apparatus for the dispensing of powdered chemicals. Still more specifically the invention relates to the opening and emptying of containers holding matter which must be kept within a sealed envelope prior to use, and which preferably is handled without direct human contact. One apparatus available on the market for photograhic processing equipment is designed for automatic opening and emptying of a container, which container exhibits a reduced neck terminated in a spout, sealed with a pierceable septum. This prior art apparatus comprises a socket adapted for retaining the container, a cutting means formed as part of a cylinder with a toothed edge, and means for forcing this cutting means into the septum to tear open the septum along a line which extends generally adjacent an inner edge of the spout along the greater part of one revolution so as to leave an unbroken portion with the result that the part of the septum cut loose forms a flap which flexes downwardly. The cutting means is operated by pivoting about a horizontal axis, and it performs several impact motions in order to effect the piercing operation. An apparatus of this kind is mechanically complicated. The cut made in the septum leaves a relatively wide unbroken rim along the inner edge of the spout which may have the tendency to retain powdered matter with the effect that not all of the container contents are emptied. The impact type motion necessitates a sturdy retention of the container, and may in case of a container of a pliable material cause folding or wrinkling of such a container in a way which may intercept the outflow of contents. The prior art container may, in case of powdered chemicals for photographic applications susceptible to some degree of agglomeration, permit such powdered matter to form bridges inside the container. A partial emptying of the container is a substantial disadvantage in case of photographic chemicals, as this may lead to an uncorrect dosage of chemicals. Another disadvantage may be requirements for added safety precautions in discarding emptied containers due to the potential hazards by chemical residues. German published application DE 31 50 209 Al discloses a toner cartridge for a copying machine, which cartridge comprises a spout sealed with a membrane and adapted for being introduced into a socket on the photocopying machine. The socket is provided with stationary stud which breaks the septum sealing the cartridge by the motion of the axial introduction of the cartridge into the socket. Thus in this prior art apparatus, puncturing the seal is coupled to the introduction of the cartridge into the socket, which complicates the operation and which has the undesirable effect that the seal will be punctured before the cartridge has reached its final position in the socket. US patent 3 080 078 describes an apparatus for dispensing of hot foods, which comprises means for opening and emptying cans. This comprises means for piercing the lid of the can and for drawing a knife to form a circular cut and subsequently for turning the can upside down to empty the contents. This prior art apparatus is considered to be quite complicated. The invention in a first aspect provides an apparatus as recited in claim 1. In this apparatus, the socket guides the spout and supports it in a steady position, held by the weight of the container and, optionally, by dedicated retention means. The cutting means preferably comprises a pointed device capable of puncturing the seal membrane, and a knife edge. The cutting means may be stationary in a way to effect the piercing by the motion of introducing the cartridge into the socket, or the cutting means may be adapted for a controlled motion in the way that the cartridge is installed in the socket prior to piercing the septum, whereafter the cutting means and the socket are moved to approach each other to the point of puncturing the septum. This apparatus obtains a gentle handling of the cartridge with a minimum of shaking motions, and it produces a seal opening which produces the optimal conditions for permitting the cartridge contents to flow out. Gentle handling is an important point in case of containers comprising very pliable or flexible pouches which may be susceptible to form wrinkles or folds in an irregular manner if they are shaken during the emptying step. A container which is well adapted for opening and emptying in the apparatus according to the invention is the subject of a co-pending international patent application filed in the name of the same applicant and with a claim of priority from Danish patent application No. 590/97. According to preferred embodiment, the first drive means is adapted to effect a course by which the cut traces part of a circle on the seal membrane of the container. This may be implemented by making a knife pierce the septum and by performing a circular motion, stopping a little short of one full revolution, or it may be implemented by performing several revolutions while moving the knife in and out of the plane of the seal membrane in a manner controlled in synchronism with the rotation. According to a first preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises second drive means for moving the cutting means to pierce the pierceable section. This permits the complete automation of the opening and emptying procedure. This also permits retracting the knife during the stages of installing and removing the container so as to avoid any hazard to the operator. According to a further preferred embodiment, the second drive means is adapted for effecting oscillatory movements so as to create a shearing effect by said cutting means. This creates a saw action which is more effective in cutting the septum, and this also has the advantage of distributing any wear over a section of the cutting edge, thereby minimizing localized wear on the cutting edge. According to a preferred embodiment, the second drive means is adapted for moving the cutting means away to rest position, wherein the cutting means is shielded by a protective cover. This makes the apparatus safe for the operator in charge of installing and removing the containers. Furthermore it protects the knife from accidental damage during handling and maintenance procedures . According to a further preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a nozzle adapted for injecting a jet of gas or liquid through the opening cut in the septum in order to purge the inside of the container. This permits the cleaning of the container in order to remove all residue of the contents. According to a further preferred embodiment, the second drive means is adapted for moving the cutting means in the direction substantially transverse to the socket. This eases the requirements to positive retention of the spout, as the reaction force caused by the engagement by the knife will mainly be applied transversely to the socket, thus with no tendency to move the cartridge away from its position in the socket. The invention in a further aspect provides a method as recited in claim 9. This method achieves the advantages referred to above in the context of the apparatus according to the invention. According to a preferred embodiment of this method, the cut is traced along a course which involves motion in a direction along the plane of the seal membrane as well as motion tranverse to the plane of the seal membrane. These definitions, in case of non-planar seal mebranes, refer to a tangent plane to the membrane at the point of contact between the membrane and the knife edge. The motion in the direction along the plane of the seal membrane has the purpose of tracing an extended cut in the membrane. The motion transverse to the plane of the seal membrane has the purpose of creating a shearing or saw action by the knife in order to enhance the cutting and in order to distribute any wear on the knife edge. The invention in still another aspect provides a use of an apparatus is recited in claim 10. This use is of particular advantage in the context of photographic chemicals which may be susceptible to agglomeration and which may be hazardous and aggressive, and which also necessitate a very precise dosage and thus emptying. Further features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will become apparent form the following description of preferred embodiments given with reference to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical, axial section in an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 illustrates a plan section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 illustrates a plan section of a container in order to illustrate a cut formed by an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 illustrates a vertical, axial section through an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5 illustrates a plan section with the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. All figures are schematic and not necessarily to scale and illustrate only those items which are essential to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention, while other items which are considered to be known in the art have been deleted for the sake of simplicity. In all figures the same references have been used about identical or similar items. Reference is first made to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for a description of a dispensing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 illustrates the dispenser in vertical axial section, Fig. 2 illustrates a plan section with a line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 illustrates part of a container with indication of the cut effected by the action of the dispenser according to the first embodiment. The dispenser 1 basically comprises base plate 6, which base plate defines a circular race 7 which receives a rim 2 in rotatable fashion. The race 7 in the base plate 6 defines an axis of rotation 26 about which the rim may rotate. The rim 2 defines a hollow socket 3 comprising an interior, generally cylindrical hollow with two opposite, radially extending recesses 4 (refer to Fig. 2) . The socket 3 is adapted for receiving a container 17 by means of a container spout 19 being inserted inside the socket. The spout 19 has a generally cylindrical tubular shape with two opposite, outwardly extending lobes or salients 20 adapted for being received in the socket recesses 4. The mating interaction between the spout lobes 20 and the socket recesses 4 provides a non- rotatable engagement between the spout and the rim. The socket recesses 4 may be adapted for permitting locking the lobes by axial insertion of the spout followed by a twist. Rim 2 is provided with an exterior worm gear 5 which meshes with pinion 8 on drive shaft 9 driven by motor 10. The motor 10 is provided with suitable control means for controlling its operation so as to start it and to stop it, and to operate the rotation through a predetermined angle as referred to the rim. The provision of suitable control means is considered to lie within the capabilities of those skilled in the art. Referring more particularly again to Fig. 1, the dispenser further comprises a knife 11 supported by a knife fixture 12 which is in turn structurally supported by the base plate 6. The knife 11 comprises an upwardly oriented point and a knife edge suitably oriented and designed to perform the operations to be explained below. Below the knife the dispenser further comprises a chute 13 adapted for collecting and funnelling any matter discharged from the container once opened. A nozzle 14 is arranged adjacent the chute and oriented upwardly adjacent the axis of rotation 26. The nozzle is communicated with a pipe conduit 15 in order to provide a means by which a jet of fluid, such as gas or liquid, may be injected towards the container interior with the purpose of purging the inside container walls. Operation of the dispenser generally takes place as follows : A cartridge comprising a container 17 holding powdered matter and sealed by a membrane 21 is oriented with the spout downwardly and held with the spout above the socket. Once the lobes have been registrered with the recesses, the spout is pushed downwards to reach a position of engagement, illustrated in Fig. 1. During the axial introduction of the spout, the membrane 21 which seals the spout opening is pierced by the pointed knife. Once the container has been driven home in the socket, the motor is operated to turn the rim. The spout 19 and the entire container turns by way of the interaction between the lobes and the recesses. The drive motor is operated to turn the rim over the greater part of one revolution. Hereby the knife traces a cut 16 in the membrane 21 as illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the cut is indicated in phantom by reference 16. This cuts out of the mebrane a flap 18 which stays attached to the edge by a small part and which bends downwardly under the action of its own weight and possibly under the weight of the container contents. In another embodiment (not illustrated in particular) , the base plate comprises an axially inwardly protruding sectored edge adapted in order that the spout with the lobes may simply be introduced axially and then by the rotation be moved under sectored edge parts to be retained securely within the rim. This provides for simple installation and for positive retention during rotation of the container. Whereas Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment with a fixed knife which merely pierces the membrane by the axial motion to introduce the container into the socket, a second embodiment (not shown) comprises a movable knife which may be activated to pierce the membrane while the container is held by the socket. Although the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a rotatable container socket together with a non-rotating knife, another embodiment (not shown) comprises a fixed socket and a rotating knife fixture adapted for rotating the knife in a controlled manner so as to trace a membrane cut similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 3. Another embodiment (not shown in the figures) comprises means for moving the knife relative to the socket in a direction transverse to the plane of the mebrane in a manner synchronized with the rim rotation. Transverse motions may comprise small pertubations or undulating movements having the purpose of distributing any knife edge wear, to further the cutting, and possibly to shake the container to enhance outflow of powder. Another purpose of transverse motion may be to take the knife away from the plane of the membrane to control the length of the cut. The provision of means to take the knife away from the plane of the membrane during a particular part of the rim rotation, permits adapting the motor for turning the rim several revolutions while the knife is lifted away from the membrane repeatedly in synchronism with the rotation so as to leave at a particular place a membrane section by which the flap adheres to the edge. Control of the motion transversely to the plane of the membrane may be implemented by a guide way. In this embodiment the motor preferably comprises means for stopping rotation always in an orientation where the knife has been lifted away from the membrane plane. This has the purpose of permitting entering and removing of the container without engaging the knife. Thus the membrane will only be pierced upon starting rotation by the effect of the rotating motion and the transverse motion. Reference is now made to Figs. 4 and 5 for a description of a dispenser 22 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The dispenser 22 according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises a knife 23 secured to a linear actuator 24 by which the knife may be displaced in a direction generally transverse to the axis of container rotation 26. Thus the knife 23 according to the second embodiment is adapted for engaging and forming an incision in a peripheral, tubular wall of the container spout, which wall, in this case, provides the seal membrane. The linear actuator 24 is adapted for retracting the knife into a sheath or protective cover 25 wherein the edge and the point of the knife is safely protected. This avoids any hazards to the operator in charge of positioning the container and it avoids the risk of accidentally damaging the knife. Rotation of the rim 2 is similar to what is explained in respect of the first embodiment. Thus the incision formed in the container by the dispenser 22 according to the second embodiment takes the shape of the greater part of a circle around the periphery of a tubular part of the spout. The cut stops just short of a full revolution of the rim in order not to sever the bottom part of the container completely from the spout . In a preferred embodiment, the linear actuator 24 is adapted for effecting undulating motions of the knife during the rotation of the rim so as to impart a shearing action by the knife during rotation of the container. Other parts of the dispenser according to the second embodiment are similar to parts of the dispenser according to the first embodiment; therefore reference may be made to the explanation given above. Although specific embodiments have been described above it is emphasized that the invention may be exercised in several ways and that the explanation given above exclusively serves to clarify the invention and not to limit the scope of protection conferred, which is exclusively defined by the appended claims.

Claims: Claims 1. An apparatus for opening and emptying a container, which container comprises a spigot sealed with a member comprising a seal membrane, said apparatus comprising - a socket adapted for receiving said spigot and for supporting said container, - a cutting device adapted for piercing said section and for making a cut therein, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said apparatus further comprising - a first drive means for moving said socket relative to said cutting means in order to produce a cut in said seal membrane, which clears substantially the entire lumen of said spout. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said first drive means being adapted to effect a motion by which the cut traces part of a circle on said seal membrane. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said first drive means being adapted to rotate said socket around a vertical axis. 4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said first drive means being adapted for drawing a cut along said seal membrane and second drive means being adapted for moving said cutting means to pierce said seal membrane. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said second drive means being adapted for effecting oscillatory movements so as to impart a shearing action by said cutting means. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said second drive means being adapted for moving said cutting means in a direction substantially transverse to said socket. 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said second drive means being adapted for moving said cutting means to a rest position, wherein said cutting means is shielded by a protective cover. 8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising a nozzle adapted for injecting a jet of gas or liquid through the opening in said septum in order to purge the inside of said container. 9. A method for opening and emptying a container, said container comprising a spout sealed by a septum which comprises a seal membrane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising the steps of placing said container with the spout oriented downwards in a socket, which socket receives the spout and supports said container, - piercing said seal membrane, and - effecting a cut in said seal membrane adjacent an edge of said spout in order to free substantially the entire lumen of said spout. 10. The method according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said cut being traced along a part of a circle. 11. The method according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said cut being traced along a course which involves motion in a direction along the plane of said seal membrane as well as motion transverse to the plane of said seal membrane. 12. The method according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said cut being effected by rotating said socket about a vertical axis. 13. The method according to any of the claims 9, 10, 11, or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising the step of blowing fluid through opening of said spout in order to purge the container inner surfaces. 14. A use of an apparatus according to any of the claims 1 through 5 for the dispensing of powdered chemicals for photographic liquids.

Inventors: JOSEPHSEN BIRGER, NIELSEN KAJ, JOSEPHSEN, BIRGER, NIELSEN, KAJ
Applicants: DELTAGRAPH AS, JOSEPHSEN BIRGER, NIELSEN KAJ, DELTAGRAPH A/S, JOSEPHSEN, BIRGER, NIELSEN, KAJ
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B67B7
IPC codes: B67B7, G03C5, G03D13