Assembly for storage and dispensing of unit objects, equipped with a first-opening seal
An assembly for storage and controlled dispensing of unit products, constituted by a container for bulk storage of the products, a device for reclosably closing the container, including a dehydrating device, and a flow-limiting device for dispensing products. The flow-limiting device includes (a) a tearable membrane connected to the edge of the dispensing aperture and totally blocking the aperture and equipped with a gripping and pulling device, and (b) a passage allowing for a gas exchange and preventing, by virtue of its restricted dimensions, the dispensing of the packaged products.
1. Assembly for storage and controlled dispensing of unit products, comprising:
a container for bulk storage of the products,
a closing device for reclosably closing the container, the closing device having dehydrating means therein, and
a flow-limiting device for dispensing products, equipped with an upper face and a lower face, a cylindrical peripheral skirt, at least one guide surface leading to a dispensing aperture and attachment means to the container, the flow-limiting device being disposed within the container between a container portion in which the products are stored and the closing device,
the flow-limiting device further comprising:
a) a tearable membrane connected to an edge of the dispensing aperture and totally blocking the aperture and equipped with gripping and pulling means, and
b) a passage allowing for a gas exchange between the lower face and the upper face, but preventing, by virtue of restricted dimensions of the passage, dispensing of packaged products therethrough.
2. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tearable membrane is connected to the edge of the dispensing aperture by a thin continuous integral connection of a tearable film, or a plurality of scored micro-points.
3. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping and pulling means securely connected to the tearable membrane ( 5 ) is a ring.
4. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the passage allowing a gas exchange between the two faces of the device is constituted by holes, slots, orifices or open spaces positioned at any point on the lower surface or the guide surface of the device or directly on the tearable membrane.
5. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the passage allowing a gas exchange between the two faces of the device is constituted by gaps which remain free between scored micro-points connecting the tearable first-opening seal membrane to the edge of the dispensing aperture.
6. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow-limiting device has an inlet having a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section.
7. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow-limiting device has an inlet having a cross-section no larger than an internal cross-section of the neck of the container.
8. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the guide surface of the flow-limiting device is a spherical, frusto-conical, cylindro-frusto-conical, frusto-parabolic, or frusto-hyperbolic surface, which surfaces have a concave or convex straight or oblique revolution.
9. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the guide surface of the flow-limiting device is a planar surface comprising the dispensing aperture.
10. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing aperture has a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section.
11. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing aperture is outside of an axis of symmetry of the device.
12. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing aperture is substantially set back with respect to a plane of the upper annular surface of the skirt of the device, thus freeing a space between said aperture and the base of the closure means.
13. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the flow-limiting device is positioned on the external peripheral surface of the skirt of the device.
14. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the flow-limiting device is a press fitting, clipping between a groove and ring, differential thermal shrinkage, screwing or pawl and ratchet attachment.
15. Assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the attachment means of the flow-limiting device comprises a system of a ring fitted to a groove formed on the internal cylindrical surface of the container and cooperating with the ring arranged on the external cylindrical surface of the skirt of the flow-limiting dispensing device.
16. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the flow-limiting device comprises a support means which enables vertically positioning the flow-limiting device with respect to an associated neck of the container, which support means comprises a collar abutting the neck of the container or placed in a circular recess shoulder provided in the neck of the container.
17. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein an upper annular surface of the cylindrical skirt of the device is level with an upper surface of the container.
18. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device comprises a recess formed on the internal cylindrical surface of the skirt, cooperating with an olive shaped bulge arranged on the external cylindrical surface of the closure means.
19. Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow-limiting device is produced by injection of thermoplastic material.
20. Method for packaging unit products with an assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the closure device and the flow-limiting device are pre-assembled by a manufacturer in a sub-assembly, prior to final assembly on a packaging line in order to close the container.