US 11,987,415 B2
Method and apparatus for filling and/or emptying flexible containers
Frédéric Dietrich, Jr., Morrens (CH)
Assigned to FYDEC HOLDING SA, Ecublens (CH)
Appl. No. 17/599,000
Filed by FYDEC HOLDING SA, Ecublens (CH)
PCT Filed Mar. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/056711
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 28, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/207698, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19167848 (EP), filed on Apr. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0177177 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 69/00 (2006.01); B65G 69/18 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 69/0075 (2013.01) [B65G 69/183 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for filling and/or emptying flexible containers (5) of loose substances, the method comprising the steps of:
folding a container edge (7) over a radially deformable, disposable fastening ring (9);
inserting the disposable fastening ring (9) into an end portion of a filling and/or emptying neck (2) of a filling and/or emptying device (1), the disposable fastening ring (9) thus being arranged substantially concentrically with the filling and/or emptying neck (2) and a radially outer fold-over section (8) of the container edge (7) being arranged and/or clamped between an inner surface of the filling and/or emptying neck (2) and a radially outer surface;
pressing the disposable fastening ring (9) into a sealing section (15) of the filling and/or emptying neck (2) disposed downstream of the end portion in the axial direction (A) a radially outer fold-over section (8) of the container (5) being pressed against the sealing section (15) of the filling and/or emptying neck (2) and thereby sealing the container (5) against the filling and/or emptying neck (2) in the area of the sealing section (15), the insertion and/or pressing of the disposable fastening ring (9) into the inside of the filling and/or emptying neck (2) thus leading to a radial deformation and to an opposite contact force which presses the outer fold-over section (8) of the container edge (7) against the inner surface of the filling and/or emptying neck (2) and seals the container (5) against the filling and/or emptying neck (2) in the process;
filling or emptying the container (5) by adding or discharging the substance through the filling and/or emptying neck (2);
sealing and detaching the filled or emptied container (5);
sealing the fold-over section, the disposable fastening ring (9) being enclosed by the fold-over section.