EP0912413A1

EP0912413A1 - Plastic stop-cock for liquid containers

Info

Publication number: EP0912413A1
Application number: EP97917987A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arthur Steiger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-14
Filing date: 1997-05-15
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-15
Also published as: US5785212A; AU2631097A; EP0912413B1; ZA975121B; AU718270B2; BR9709783A; CH691262A5; ATE190285T1; WO1997048614A1; DE59701229D1; CA2258180A1; ES2146093T3

Abstract

The proposed tap features a hollow, elastic body (1) with an inlet opening and an outlet opening (4). In addition, it features a valve element (7) which in its basic position closes off the outlet opening (4). In the tap of the first embodiment, the lift causing the valve element to be pulled out of the outlet opening (4) is achieved by the body (1) being deformed by the application of pressure at the side. In the second embodiment of the tap, the lift causing the valve element to be thrust out of the outlet opening is achieved by deforming the body by applying pressure from above and below. The valve element (7) is connected to the wall (5) of the tap body (1) by of a rod-shaped stem (10). The corresponding mounting position of the valve element is located across from the center of the outlet opening (4).

Description

PLASTIC TAP FOR LIQUID TANKS

The invention relates to a plastic tap according to the preamble of claim 1.

As packaging for liquid foods, such as wine, cooking oil, etc., containers are increasingly being used, which are composed of a rigid, outer container and a flexible, inner container. The rigid, outer container can, for example, be cuboid or cuboid and consist of corrugated cardboard. The flexible, inner container can be formed like a sack and consist of thermally welded plastic film. Such containers are also referred to as "bag-in-boxes". The bag-like inner container has a round opening for the removal of liquid from the container. To attach a tap, an essentially hollow-cylindrical coupling piece is normally arranged in this opening. The coupling piece is welded to the plastic film of the container in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner. In specialist circles, the welding of plastic films is also referred to as thermal sealing. In order to obtain a resilient visual white connection or thermal seal between the film and the coupling piece, the coupling piece has a thin, wide, laterally projecting flange on one of its end faces. This flange is usually made of soft, low density plastic. Thermosealing takes much less time with a flange made of soft plastic than with a flange made of hard plastic. Furthermore, a thin flange made of soft plastic is very flexible and can consequently largely adapt to the folds and bulges of the filled inner container. This can largely prevent the plastic oil of the inner container from escaping from the outer diameter of the flange. Normally a pin or a tap is pressed into this coupling piece. Such a cock points essentially a hollow body with an inlet and an outlet opening. The flow of the liquid from the inlet opening through the base body to the outlet opening can be regulated by a valve device.

When the liquid container is closed, the tap is housed inside the rigid outer container. The wall of the outer container is perforated at the point behind which the tap is located. To open the container, this perforated point is simply pressed in. The tap can then be pulled out of the container. There is the danger that one presses on the actuating element of the valve and thereby fluid flows out unintentionally. It is therefore advantageous if the tap is provided with an additional securing device (a seal) which locks the tap and must be removed before the tap is used for the first time. So that liquid can flow out of rigid containers, air must be able to refill into the container at the same time. This has the major disadvantage that the liquid remaining in the container comes into contact with this air and is additionally oxidized. This problem does not exist with "Bag ~ ιn boxes". Since the inner container of a "bag-in-box" is flexible, it collapses when gravity pulls out liquid. The volume of the inner container thus continuously adapts to the decreasing liquid volume. Air does not flow into the container here. Additional oxidation of the liquid can thus be prevented.

An optimal tap should have the following properties:

A very important property of an optimal tap is its tightness against oxygen. If oxygen can penetrate into the liquid container, the shelf life of the liquid foodstuffs is reduced. This applies above all to liquid foods which are sensitive to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. One example is wine. The cocks are usually made of plastic. The surface The components of a rooster are therefore never completely smooth. In addition, dust particles inevitably adhere to these surfaces. The rough surfaces and the dust particles mean that the sealing points of a tap do not have perfect tightness. The more connection points a tap has, the greater the likelihood that it will leak.

Since the "bag-in-boxes" and their cocks are designed for single use, it is important that the cocks can be manufactured as inexpensively as possible. Low production costs can be achieved if as little plastic as possible is used for a tap and the tap consists of as few, simply shaped parts as possible. The shape and construction of the individual parts should enable mass production with multiple shapes. Such a multiple mold contains a multiplicity (for example 30) mold cavities or cavities for a single part.

An optimal tap should also have the following important features:

a) It should enable a high flow rate so that the last remaining liquid flows out of the container. b) The outlet opening should be protected from insects and other possible contaminants. c) It should have a safety tear-off closure which ensures that one can see whether the container has already been opened or not. This is important with regard to product liability. d) A possible tax seal should be able to be glued directly onto the securing tear-off seal. e) It should be possible to weld the tap directly to the film of the inner container without using a coupling piece. f) The shape of the base of the tap should make it possible to manufacture it from plastic using an injection molding process with easy demolding. According to the current state of the art, different types of taps for liquid containers are known. Most known cocks, however, have considerable shortcomings.

Cocks that can be opened and closed by turning an actuating element are unsuitable for "bag-in-boxes" because the cock on the plastic film of the flexible inner container of the "bag-in-boxes" has too little resistance. To open such a tap, one must therefore hold the tap or the coupling piece with one hand while operating the actuating element with the other hand. This leaves no hand free to hold the container to be filled. For example, rotary taps are the subject of patent documents EP 0467 530 (publication date 22.1.1992), EP 0 117 619 (publication date 5.91984, WO 94/29214 (publication date 22.12.1994), WO 90/05696 (publication date 31.5.1990) and the publication DE 39 10 425 (day of disclosure October 18, 1990).

Cocks that can be opened and held with one hand are more suitable for "bag-in-boxes". The second hand then remains free to hold the glass or container to be filled.

So that no oxygen penetrates before the first use of the container, the opening of the inner container can be closed by a plate or a stopper. The plate or the stopper is removed when the container is used for the first time. Cocks are known which, in addition to the valve device, have a device for piercing the plate or for removing the stopper from the container opening when the container is used for the first time.

There are types of cocks in which the axes of the valve device and the piercing device are perpendicular to one another. The valve device normally consists of a valve part, which together with the valve seat forms the actual valve, and a valve stem. The push-through device comprises a push-through part which is divided into a head and a head Shaft is structured. The head has at least one sharp tip or edge for piercing the plate in the container opening. It can also be designed as a stopper, which closes the container opening. The shafts of the valve device and the piercing device are operatively connected to one another. This means that when the valve device is actuated, the push-through device is also actuated at the same time, or vice versa. For the transmission of the movement, a section of the shaft of the valve device or of the piercing device can be wedge-shaped. Such cocks are the subject of patent specification EP 0 553 956 (publication date August 4, 1993) and patent application DE 32 12 232 (publication date October 7, 1982). In cocking, which is described in the published patent application DE 32 12 232, a deformable body serves to transmit the movement between the stem of the valve device and the stem of the piercing part.

In order to be able to achieve a secure transmission of force between the shafts of the valve device and the piercing device, which shafts run at right angles to one another, complex constructions from many individual parts are necessary. These complex designs lead to high manufacturing costs and often have an insufficient tightness.

The published patent application DE 32 12 232 therefore proposes a tap with a valve device and a closure device for the container opening, in which the valve part and the plug of the closure device are arranged coaxially one behind the other. By actuating an elastic actuation button, the valve part is pushed out of the valve seat. This will open the tap outlet. At the same time, the valve part pushes the stopper forward, which opens the container opening. The elastic button can be formed as part of the tap body. It acts on the valve part via a valve stem.

If the opening of a liquid container is closed with a sealing plate or a stopper, then the Entry of oxygen can be largely avoided until the container is used for the first time. Nevertheless, the liquid can be oxidized to a certain extent if it has not been filled in without air.

However, a sealing plate or a stopper can be dispensed with if the tap itself is sufficiently tight. In various patents, simple cocks without a push-through device have been described.

Subject of patent specification GB 1 471 039 (publication date 21.

4.1977) is, for example, a tap that has a tubular base body. One end of this basic body forms the outlet, the other end is closed with an elastic membrane. The membrane can be integrated into the base body. It is also connected to a valve part. This valve part is in the closed position in a valve seat which is formed at the outlet. The membrane can be connected to the valve part, for example, by a stem. When the membrane is pressed inwards, the valve part is pushed out of the seat and the outlet is opened. The inlet opening is located between the valve seat and the membrane in the wall of the tubular base body. At the inlet opening, a hollow cylindrical part can be formed on the outside of the body, which is bent at its free end and has ribs on its outer surface. A similar approach is described in GB 2 283 077 (publication date April 26, 1995). This tap consists of two parts. The first part has a hollow cylindrical section. At one end of this hollow cylindrical section, a laterally projecting flange is formed, which is welded to the inner, flexible container. At the same end, the hollow cylindrical section has an inwardly projecting edge, the inner surface of which forms the valve seat. The wall of the hollow cylindrical section is provided with an opening. The second part is divided into a sleeve-like and a tubular section. The sleeve-like section is attached to the hollow cylindrical section of the first part. The tubular section lies both within the sleeve-like section of the second part and also within the hollow cylindrical section of the first part. It serves as a valve element. The cuff-like section and the tubular section are connected to one another by an elastic, round plastic disk. If you print on this plastic disc from the outside, the valve part is lifted out of the valve seat and the valve is opened. If there is no pressure, the plastic disc bends back into its basic shape and pulls the valve part back into the valve seat.

Furthermore, the patent EP 0 350 243 (published on 10.1.1990) proposes a tap which has an essentially hollow cylindrical housing. The housing has an inlet opening at the rear end facing the liquid container. A tubular valve part is arranged axially displaceably inside the housing. This valve part is provided with an outlet opening in its front end section and with an inlet opening at its rear end. On the inside of the housing wall there is at least one spiral groove in which a mandrel protruding laterally on the valve part engages. Thanks to this arrangement, the axial movement of the valve part causes it to rotate. The valve part can be moved from an open position, in which the outlet opening of the valve part is open, to a closed position, in which the outlet opening is closed. Furthermore, patent specification GB 2 247 882 (published on March 18, 1992) describes a tap which consists of a fastening piece facing the liquid container, a tap housing and a valve housing which is plugged onto the tap housing. The fastening piece consists of a hollow, cylindrical base part, on the inner edge of which a flat flange protrudes laterally. The cock housing is screwed onto the base part of the fastening piece. The cup-shaped valve housing is attached to the tap housing. There is a on the inside of the outer end wall of the valve housing molded conical valve part. The outer end of the tap housing is closed by pushing the valve housing in the direction of the fastening piece and pushing the valve part into the open end of the tap housing. The wall of the valve part is provided with an outlet opening.

A cock of a similar type is the subject of patent specification WO 95/22504 (publication date August 24, 1995). This tap has a housing with an inlet and an outlet opening. A valve part is arranged in the housing. It can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the housing from a first, front position, in which it prevents the flow of the liquid through the taps, to a second, rear position, in which it allows the flow. The valve seat is formed by a section of the housing wall.

Finally, patent specification EP 0 432 070 (publication date June 12, 1991) proposes a tap which essentially consists of a body for assembly in the outlet opening of the container and a spring-loaded piston for releasing the liquid. The piston acts on an elastic sealing membrane connected to the body. On the one hand, the body comprises the actual cocks, on the other hand an insertion end for fastening in the outlet opening of the container. The insertion end has a groove which interacts with an annular projection of the outlet opening. In addition, the body is provided with a laterally protruding bearing ring. The upper part of the piston has excellent handling approaches. Furthermore, the cock is provided with a tear-off control device which contains a ring which locks the piston.

In summary, one can say that there is a ^w Bag-in-Box is for fixing ei¬ nes slipper valve to the plastic film of the inner container "basically two options: The first option, the base body of the tap di¬ rectly welded to the plastic film. For this purpose, a laterally projecting flange is formed on the base body. body of the valve is made of relatively hard material, the flange is also hard in this case. This makes it more difficult to weld the flange to the thin, flexible plastic film of the inner container. In addition, a hard flange causes the plastic film to tear along the outer edge of the flange. To attach a tap, it must be possible to grasp it at the front with a tool. In addition, there must be the possibility of placing the welding tool for welding the rear end of the tap with the film of the container over the front section of the tap. This can only be achieved if the front cock section is narrower than the rear cock end section. The handling approaches protrude laterally from the actual tap base. So you determine the width of the tap. The rear cock end section, in particular the flange, will consequently be wider in a cock with handling approaches than in a cock without handling approaches.

In the second possibility, an annular coupling piece is welded onto the plastic film of the inner container. The tap is then inserted into the welded-on coupling piece. For this purpose, the tap base body has an insertion end which fits into the coupling piece. In contrast to the tap body, the coupling piece is made of relatively soft plastic and, accordingly, can also be better welded to the plastic film of the inner container than a hard flange. However, additional material is required for the production of the coupling piece, which increases the production costs. The tool with which the cocks are inserted into the coupling piece must also be able to be slipped over the front section of the cock. The front cock section must consequently also be narrower here than the rear cock section. The handling approaches also determine the overall width of the front tap section. The rear cock section, which can be designed, for example, as a laterally projecting contact, must consequently be wider in a cock with handling approaches than in a cock without handling approaches. This also applies to the coupling piece. However, the taps and coupling pieces must not be too large, since otherwise the material, storage and transport costs will be too expensive.

All known cocks for "bag-in-boxes" are too complexly constructed or only partially fulfill the important properties of an optimal cock. To manufacture them, plastic quantities that are sometimes too large are required. As a result, both their manufacture and their transport and storage are expensive. In addition, most of the known taps have an insufficient tightness, as a result of which the shelf life of the liquids in "bag-in-boxes" is reduced.

The present invention therefore has as its object to provide a tap for liquid containers, in particular for "bag-in-boxes", which consists of a flexible, inner container and a rigid, outer container, which is more universal can be used and is constructed more simply and consists of a smaller amount of plastic than the known, related cocks. The tap should combine all the important properties of an optimal tap. Another task is to make the cocks as gas-tight and consumer-friendly as possible. In addition, it should be possible to weld the tap directly to the film of the inner container without a coupling piece.

The object is achieved with the aid of the features of claim 1 according to the invention. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The proposed tap has a hollow, elastic base body with an inlet and an outlet opening. In addition, it comprises a valve element which, in its basic position, closes the outlet opening.

In a first embodiment of the proposed tap, the stroke is achieved, which causes the valve element to be pulled out of the outlet opening by moving the base body deformed by lateral pressure. The pressure is therefore applied at right angles to the direction of movement of the valve element. The expansion of the base body decreases in the direction of the pressure and increases at the same time in the direction of movement of the valve element. In order to protect the tap body from unwanted deformation, a protective cap can be put on it, which also serves as a carrier for a tax seal or a tax stamp. The proposed tap is also equipped with a safety tear-off seal.

In a second embodiment of the proposed valve, the stroke is achieved which causes the valve element to be pressed out of the outlet opening by deforming the basic body by pressure from above and below. The pressure is therefore applied coaxially to the direction of movement of the valve element. The invention is explained below using, inter alia, an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 a shows a cross section through a tap according to the invention of the first embodiment in the closed state with the cap attached;

FIG. 1b shows a cross section through the cocks according to FIG. La in the open state without a cap;

2a shows a side view of a tap according to the invention of the first embodiment without a cap; 2b is a bottom view of the tap according to FIG. 2a; 2c shows a top view of the cocks according to FIG. 2a; 2d shows a front view of the tap according to FIG. 2a; 2e shows a rear view of the tap according to FIG. 2a;

3a shows a side view of a tap according to the invention of the first embodiment with the cap attached; 3b shows a bottom view of the tap according to FIG. 3a; 3σ a top view of the cocks according to FIG. 3a; 3d shows a front view of the tap according to FIG. 3a; 3e shows a section AA through the cocks according to FIG. 3a; 4a shows a front view of a tap according to the invention of the first embodiment with a cap attached and a control seal stuck on;

4b shows a longitudinal section A-A through the front section of the base body of a tap of the first type of training with a cap attached and a control seal stuck on;

4c shows a longitudinal section B-B through the front section of a cock base body according to FIG. 4b;

5 shows a section through the securing tear-off closure of a basic valve body according to FIG. 4c;

6a shows a longitudinal section through a tap of the second type of training and

6b shows a cross section C-C through a tap according to FIG. 6a.

In the exemplary embodiment which is shown in the drawings, the proposed tap of the first embodiment comprises an elongated, hollow base body 1. In the base state, this base body 1 has an essentially oval or elliptical cross section (cf. FIGS. 1 a to 2 c). It consists of a soft, elastic plastic.

The front end 2 of the base body 1 facing away from the liquid container is closed and concavely bent outwards (cf. FIGS. 2a to 2d). The rear end 3 of the base body 1 facing the liquid container is open (cf. FIG. 2e). It forms the inlet opening of the tap. The outlet opening 4 is arranged in a slightly curved section of the base body wall 5, which is located in the drawings below, near the front end face 2 of the base body (cf. FIGS. 1 a, 1 b and 2 b). When the base body is undeformed, it is circular. On the outer side of the basic body wall 5, the outlet opening 4 is surrounded by a hollow cylindrical sleeve 6. The inside diameter of the sleeve 6 has the same diameter as the outlet opening 4. At the inner edge of the outlet opening 4 a circumferential annular flange 19 projecting in the direction of the center of the opening is arranged, which serves as a stop for the valve element 7. It thus forms the valve seat. The Ventilele¬ element 7 is divided into a wide, upper part 20 and a narrow, lower part 21. Both parts 20, 21 have a round cross section. The diameter of the upper part 20 is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the circumferential ring flange 19. The diameter of the lower part 21 corresponds to the inner diameter of the ring flange 19 or is somewhat smaller than this. A shoulder is thus formed between the two parts 20, 21, which rests on the ring flange 19 when the cocks are closed. The upper part 20 is cylindrical in a lower section and conical in an upper section. The lower part 20 of the valve element 7 is divided into a lower and an upper section. The upper section 22 is slightly conical, the lower section 23 is strongly conical. The outer end face of the lower part 21 has a smaller diameter than its inner end face. The valve element 7 is connected to the wall 5 of the base body 1 by a rod-shaped shaft 10. The stem 10 protrudes at right angles from the center of the inner end face 8 of the valve element 7. It is attached with that end which faces away from the valve element 7 to the wall 5 of the base body 1 at a point which lies opposite the center of the outlet opening 4 (cf. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b). The attachment point of the shaft 10 is consequently likewise in a slightly curved section of the base body wall 5, which is located in the drawings. The valve element 7 and the stem 10 are preferably manufactured as a coherent piece. The length of the shaft 10 is selected such that the valve element 7 is pressed slightly into the valve seat of the outlet opening 4 when the basic body 1 is undeformed. To fasten the shaft 10, the base body wall 5 has in the section lying at the top in the drawings on the outside a longitudinal rib 11 which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 12 of the base body 1. The rear end of the longitudinal rib 11 lies on the rear Ren front side 3 of the base body 1. The front end portion of the longitudinal rib 11 lies opposite the center of the outlet opening 4 (see FIGS. 1a to 2a, 2c and 2d). On the inside, the longitudinal rib 11 is provided with a longitudinal groove 13, which is open towards the interior of the base body 1 and preferably has a round cross section. This longitudinal groove 13 extends over the entire length of the longitudinal rib 11. The front end section of the longitudinal groove 13 is undercut (cf. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b). It serves to fasten the shaft 10. The longitudinal rib 11 and the longitudinal groove 13 extend to the rear end face 3 of the base body 1, so that it can be easily removed from the mold during the injection molding process.

The shaft 10 is provided with a spherical or cylindrical thickening 14 at that end which faces away from the valve element 7. In the case of a cylindrical thickening 14, its longitudinal axis runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 10. The diameter of the thickening 14 is slightly larger than the diameter of the longitudinal groove 13. Together with the valve element 14, the shaft 10 is passed through the outlet opening from the outside 4 pressed through and then the thickening 14 is pressed into the front end portion of the longitudinal groove 13. The conical shape of the upper section of the upper valve element part 7 makes it easier to push the valve element 14 through the outlet opening 4.

If one presses with two fingers on the strongly curved, lateral portions of the base body wall 5 in the drawings, then the elastic base body 1 deforms in such a way that its extent decreases in the direction of the pressure acting, while its extent is perpendicular to the direction ¬ tion of the acting pressure is increased. This creates a stroke which pulls the valve stem 10 away from the outlet opening 4 of the tap. The valve element 7 is thereby lifted out of its seat and the outlet opening 4 is opened. When the pressure on the base body 1 ceases, the elastic base body 1 returns to its original shape. The valve element 7 is in the valve stem 10 again Valve seat printed in. The lower, strongly conical, lowermost section 23 of the valve element 7 ensures that the valve element 7 again finds the outlet opening 4 without any problems.

Furthermore, a flat, laterally projecting flange 16 is formed on the rear end face 3 of the base body 1. This flange 16 is used for direct thermal sealing of the tap and the film of the flexible inner container of the "bag-in-boxes". In addition, a circumferential, annular rib 17 can be formed in the vicinity of the rear end face 3 on the outer side of the basic body wall 5. A circumferential groove is formed between the flange 16 and the rib 17, in which the wall of the rigid outer container of a "bag-in-box" can be hung.

As an alternative to the flange 16, the rearmost section of the base body 1 can be designed as a push-in or push-on end, which can be joined together with a coupling piece (not shown).

Furthermore, a cap 18 is provided, which can be attached to the cocks from the front (cf. FIGS. 3a to 3d). This cap 18 is preferably of hollow cylindrical shape, its front end being closed except for a narrow transverse slot 24. It is made of hard plastic. Their inside diameter corresponds to the height of the basic tap body 1 or is slightly smaller than this. Its inside diameter is also larger than the width of the base body 1. The cap 18 is also at least as long as the base body 1. Its front end wall is preferably convex. In the attached state, the cap 18 touches the base body 1 on the longitudinal rib 11 and on the outer end face of the cuff 6. In addition, the rear edge of the cap 18 bears against the annular rib 17. The outer end face of the cuff 6 is preferably curved in such a way that it lies completely against the cap 18. In order to further improve the tightness, the cuff wall tapers in the outer area. As a result, a type of sealing lip 9 is formed, which fits snugly against the cap 18. At the front of the annular rib 17, a narrow, essentially ring-shaped projection 15 is formed (cf. FIGS. 2a to 3e). The outside diameter of this projection 15 corresponds to the inside diameter of the cap 18 on its rear end face or is slightly smaller than this. The projection 15 is interrupted at the point where it crosses the longitudinal rib 11. If the cap 18 is placed on the tap base body 1, then its inner surface rests on the projection 15 (cf. FIG. 3e). The cap 18 fulfills the following functions:

If you pull the taps out of the liquid container when opening it, there is a risk that you will push the taps on the side and liquid will flow out of the container unintentionally. The rigid cap 18 now prevents the cock base body 1 from being compressed. It stabilizes the base body 1 in diameter. Furthermore, the soft cock base body 1 is slightly compressed by the cap 18, which rests on the longitudinal rib 11 of the base body 1 and on the sealing lip 9 of the sleeve 6. The slight deformation of the base body 1 caused thereby causes the ring flange 19 to be pressed against the valve element 7 at the outlet opening 4. This achieves a better tightness between the valve element 7 and the annular flange 19.

Since the tap base body 1 is made of soft plastic, there is also the risk that it will be deformed if forces act on it or if it is exposed to large temperature fluctuations. The risk of deformation is greatest when the tap is not yet attached to the liquid container, ie during storage or transportation. By protecting the cocks with a rigid cap 18, deformation can be reliably prevented. Last but not least, the cap 18 also provides protection against contamination. To actuate the tap, the cap 18 must be removed. After that, however, it is advantageously put back on the tap. This can prevent the cock from being contaminated by dust, mold, insects etc. becomes. When putting it on, only a slight pressure should be applied so that the cap 18 can be easily removed again later.

The round cross section of the cap 18 on the one hand ensures maximum stability and on the other hand leads to the cap 18 being able to be placed on the base body 1 in any rotational position.

The securing tear-off closure 25 of the proposed tap comprises a comb 26 which is arranged on the front face 2 of the base body 1 (cf. FIGS. 2a to 2d and 3a to 4c). The comb 26 is slightly curved and runs across the front end face 2 of the base body. It is only connected to the base body 1 via a plurality of fine mandrels 27. These thorns 27 have the function of target tear-off points.

A flag 28 is formed on a side end face of the comb 26. The comb 26 can be separated from the base body 1 by pulling the laterally outstanding flag 28 forward and thereby tearing apart the fine spikes 27 one after the other. The comb 26 is divided into a front section 29 and a rear section 30. The front section 29 has the function of a barb, which can hang in the transverse slot 24 on the front face of the cap 18. For this purpose, it has one or more areas which are wider than the rear kairari section 30 and thus project beyond the rear comb section 30 on both sides. These laterally outstanding areas act as barbs. At the two rear edges of the transverse slot 24 of the cap 18, a longitudinal rib 31 projects into the transverse slot 24. The space between these longitudinal ribs 31 is at least as large as the width of the rear comb section 30, but it is smaller than the width of the protruding areas of the front comb section 29. If the cap 18 is fitted onto the base body 1, then the front comb section 29 lies on the outside on the longitudinal ribs 31. The cap 18 cannot consequently be removed before the comb 26 has been torn off. The height of the comb 26 is chosen such that the front comb section 29 does not extend beyond the outer flat of the cap 18 protrudes. So you choose a sunken one

Solution.

This gives you the option of moving to the front of the

Stick on a control seal 32 to cap 18. The control seal 32 is also destroyed when the comb 26 is torn off.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the proposed tap of the second design includes an elongated, hollow basic body 33. This basic body 33 has an essentially oval or elliptical cross section. It is slightly flattened. This means that its width corresponds to about 200% of its height (see Fig. 6b). The basic body 33 is made of soft, elastic plastic. Its front end, facing away from the liquid container, is closed. However, its rear end face 35, which faces the liquid container, is open (cf. FIG. 6a). It forms the tap's inlet opening. In a weakly curved section of the basic body wall 37, which is shown in the drawings below, there is a circular opening 36 near the front basic body end face 34. In the area of this opening 36 there is a hollow cylindrical sleeve 38 on the outside of the basic body wall 37 molded. The lower, open end of this sleeve 38 forms the outlet opening 39 of the tap. On the inside of the cuff wall 40 there is an annular recess 41 adjacent to the lower cuff wall end face. The lateral boundary surface 42 of this recess 41 is preferably inclined with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the cuff 38. The upper boundary surface 45 and the lateral boundary surface 42 of the recess 41 form the valve seat. The valve element 44 is conical. The diameter corresponds to the diameter of the recess 41, and the angle of inclination of its side surface corresponds to the angle of inclination of the lateral boundary surface 42 of the recess 41. The valve element 44 is connected to the wall 37 of the base body 33 by a rod-shaped shaft 45. This shaft 45 protrudes at right angles from the center of the upper end face 46 of the valve element 44. He is with one End, which faces away from the valve element 44, is fastened to the inside of the base body wall 37 at a point which lies opposite the center of the outlet opening 39 (cf. FIGS. 6a and 6b). Both the valve element 44 and the stem 45 are made of plastic. The length of the shaft 45 is selected such that the valve element 44 rests with the edge region of its upper end face 46 when the base body 33 is undeformed against the upper boundary surface 43 of the recess 41. To fasten the shaft 45, the base body wall 37 has two parallel longitudinal ribs 47 on the inside in the section lying at the top in the drawing. These longitudinal ribs 47 have a crescent-shaped cross section. Their concave sides face each other, so that an undercut longitudinal groove 48 with a sector-shaped cross section is formed between them. The shaft 45 is provided with a spherical or cylindrical thickening 49 at that end which faces away from the valve element 44. In the case of a cylindrical thickening 49, its longitudinal axis runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 45. The diameter of the thickening 49 is slightly larger than the diameter of the longitudinal groove 48. To fasten the shaft 45, the latter is inserted from the outside through the outlet opening 39, and then its thickening 49 pressed into the front end section of the longitudinal groove 48.

To open the valve, press with the thumb of one hand on the top and at the same time with the index finger and the middle finger of the same hand on the underside of the Hahnengrund¬ body 33. As a result, the elastic base body 33 is deformed such that its expansion in the direction of the effective pressure is reduced. This causes a stroke which pushes the valve stem 45 in the direction of the outlet opening 39 and pushes the valve element 44 out of the valve seat. The outlet opening 39 is consequently opened. If the pressure on the base body 33 ceases, then the elastic base body 33 returns to its original shape. The valve element 44 is drawn back into the valve seat by the valve stem 45. The conical shape of the valve element 44 and the recess 41 ensures that the valve element 44 is again pro- easily finds the outlet opening 41.

In order for the thumb to have a better grip on the base body 33, the base body 33 can have a slow-running indentation 50 on its upper side. Furthermore, a longitudinal rib 51 can be formed on the underside, on both sides of the cuff 38, which give the index finger and the middle finger a better grip.

Furthermore, a flat, laterally projecting flange 52 is formed on the rear end face 35 of the base body 33. Die¬ ser flange 52 with the film of the inner container of a ^w Bag- in-box "packaging. In the vicinity of the rear GrundkorperStirn¬ 35 can page further on the outer side of the Grundkorperwand 37 a circumferential, annular ridge 53 may be integrally formed. Between the flange 52 and the rib 53, a circumferential groove is formed, into which the wall of the rigid outer container of a ^"λ bag-in-box" can be inserted (not shown). As an alternative to the flange 52, the rearmost section of the base body 33 can be designed as an insertion end, which can be inserted into a conventional coupling piece (not shown).

A tool or a mold with a main core and a secondary core (not shown) is used for the production of the basic tap body 33 in the injection molding process. The main core is used to shape the elongated interior section and the rear, open end face 35 of the base body 33, the secondary core for shaping the interior of the sleeve 38 and the outlet opening 39 pulled out of the outlet opening 39. The shape of the base body 33 and the type of construction of the tool enable the base body 33 to be easily removed from the mold.

The proposed tap is primarily intended for ^xx bag-in-boxes. However, it can of course also be used for containers made of rigid plastic. The proposed tap has significant advantages over known taps for liquid containers with a flexible, bag-like inner container and a rigid outer container:

Since its base body 1, 33 consists of soft plastic of low density, the flange 16, 52, which is welded to the plastic film of the inner container, can be molded directly onto it. The proposed tap is therefore suitable for direct welding (sealing) with the plastic film of the inner container without the use of coupling pieces. It also consists of only three or two simple parts and is therefore much simpler than the known cocks. These simple parts are suitable for production with multiple forms. In contrast to the known cocks, the proposed cock also has only a single sealing point. Therefore, it has the better prerequisites for good tightness than the known cocks. Since the proposed tap does not require any tap handling approaches, it can also be made smaller. A smaller amount of plastic is therefore required for its production than for the production of known cocks. In addition, its space requirement is less, which has a positive effect on transport and storage.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Plastic taps for liquid containers, in particular for closing a flexible, inner container in a rigid, outer container, to which the plastic taps are connected to form an inlet opening which is formed in a hollow base body and wherein the base body has an outlet opening which is in the basic position is closed by a valve part which is connected to a stem, characterized in that the base body (1, 33) has an elastic wall (5, 37) which is barrel-shaped in cross section, which by radial pressure to produce an axial stroke on the stem (10 , 45) of the valve element (7, 44) is deformable.

2. Plastic cocks according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (10, 45) of the valve element (7, 44) is rod-shaped and the outlet opening (4, 39) opposite to the wall (5, 37) of the base body (1, 33) is connected.

3. Plastic cocks according to claim 2, characterized in that the outlet opening (4, 39) opposite to the inside of the wall (5, 37) of the base body (1, 33) is formed a longitudinal groove (13, 48) into which a thickening (14, 49) of the stem (10, 45) of the valve element (7, 44) can be used.

4. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the radial pressure plane of action on the wall (5) of the base body (1) is arranged approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft (10).

5. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the radial pressure plane of action on the wall (37) of the base body (33) is arranged approximately coaxially to the axis of the shaft (45).

6. Plastic cocks according to claim 3, characterized in that the thickening (14, 49) is circular in cross section, and the longitudinal groove (13, 48) has a complementarily undercut cross section.

7. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the longitudinal groove (13, 48) extends along the elongated base body (1, 33) from the open end facing the liquid container (3, 35).

8. Plastic cocks according to claim 7, characterized in that the valve element (7, 44) from the outside through the outlet opening (4, 39) into the long groove (13, 48) is designed to be insertable.

9. Plastic cocks according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal groove (13) by a on the outside of the wall (5) formed and the outlet opening (4) opposite longitudinal rib (11) is reinforced.

10. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base body (1, 33) has a circumferential rib (17, 53) located towards the liquid container with a projection (15).

11. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the valve element (7, 44) is conical on its upper part (20) and / or lower part (21) to form a sealing ring flange (19).

12. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the valve element (7) has a conical section (23) for guiding and centering the valve element (7) in the outlet opening (4).

13. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a hollow cylindrical cap (18) made of rigid plastic can be plugged onto the base body (1, 33).

14. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the valve element (7, 44) to the outlet opening (4, 39) is conical.

15. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the base body (1, 33) has a peg-shaped, elongated outer shape.

16. Plastic cocks according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a tear-off closure (25) is integrally formed on the base body (1, 33).

17. Plastic cocks according to claim 16, characterized in that the tear-off closure (25) is inserted into a transverse slot (24) of the cap (18).

18. Plastic cocks according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that a control seal (32) is attached over the tear-off closure (25).