WO2025238263A1 - Container assembly for dispensing a liquid, and method for dispensing a liquid from a container assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container assembly for dispensing a liquid, having an outer container which is open at the upper end thereof and is completely closed both at the bottom thereof and at at least one lateral wall thereof; a flexible inner container for encasing the liquid, said flexible inner container being positionable within the outer container and displaceable relative to the outer container and said flexible inner container having, at the lower end thereof, an outlet opening for removing the liquid; and a line for removing the liquid, one end of said line being fluidically connected to the outlet opening and said line being positioned within the outer container and emerging from the outer container above the upper end such that the liquid can be guided out of the container assembly. The invention further relates to an analogous method for dispensing a liquid from a container assembly.

Description

Windmöller & Hölscher KG

Münsterstraße 50

49525 Lengerich/Westphalia

Our reference number: 9472 WO - SCHN

Container arrangement for dispensing liquid and method for dispensing liquid from a container arrangement

The invention relates to a container arrangement for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 and a method for dispensing liquid from a container arrangement according to claim 7.

Printing presses, especially digital printing presses, require the continuous or discontinuous supply of various liquids. These liquids can include printing inks and/or cleaning and/or rinsing fluids. With large-format printing materials, ink consumption can be considerable, necessitating frequent refills of ink to the press. For this purpose, the ink is supplied in suitable transport containers.

Conventional systems are known in which liquids are filled into foil cushions, so-called liners, and then placed in an outer container (so-called bag-in-box systems). These packaging systems are easily emptied via attached dispensing valves or couplings, usually through a geodetic outlet.

However, a problem arises because the outlet of the foil cushion must be connected to the dispensing valve or the coupling at the bottom of the outer container to allow the liquid to be drawn off. Furthermore, the aforementioned systems must be transported in their entirety, which is a complex process. The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a container arrangement for dispensing liquid and a method for dispensing liquid from a container arrangement that enables simpler transport and simpler removal of the liquid.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by all the features of claim 1. Possible embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Within the scope of the invention, the liquid can be a printing ink or a cleaning and/or rinsing liquid.

Container arrangement for dispensing liquid

• with an outer container that is open at its upper end and completely closed at its bottom and at least one side wall,

• with a flexible inner container for enclosing the liquid, wherein the flexible inner container can be arranged within the outer container and moved relative to the outer container, wherein the flexible inner container has an outlet opening at its lower end for removing the liquid, and

• with a line for extracting the liquid, wherein the line is fluidly connected to the outlet opening at one of its ends, wherein the line is arranged inside the outer container and exits the outer container above the upper end, so that the liquid can be discharged from the container arrangement.

The directional terms mentioned, such as "up" or "down," refer to the normal directions of gravity. For example, "down" in relation to gravity is below "up."

Accordingly, the invention initially relates to an outer container that is open at its upper end but otherwise closed. In particular, This container has no fittings or other openings, which are often located slightly above the bottom in a side wall of prior art outer containers. This allows the outer container to remain attached to a printing press without needing to be moved. The inner container can then be changed directly on the printing press to add new fluid.

A further component of a container arrangement according to the invention is a flexible inner container for enclosing the liquid, wherein the flexible inner container can be arranged within the outer container and can be displaced relative to the outer container, wherein the flexible inner container has an outlet opening at its lower end for removing the liquid.

With such a flexible inner container, the liquid can be easily supplied to the printing press. After use, the inner container can be disposed of, recycled, or refilled. Once completely empty, the outer container can be removed manually due to its very small weight and volume.

It is within the scope of the invention that the outer container and the inner container, which is preferably removable from the outer container at least for disposal, can be designed in such a way that the outer container and the inner container can be exchanged together as a common container on the printing press.

Furthermore, a component of the invention is a line for extracting the liquid, wherein the line is fluidly connected to the outlet opening at one of its ends, wherein the line is arranged inside the outer container and exits the outer container above the upper end, so that the liquid can be drawn out of the container arrangement.

Such a pipe makes it possible to drain the liquid from the container even if the outlet opening of the inner container is located at its lower end. Overall, the invention makes it possible to use any external container that is not specifically adapted for liquid extraction. The combination of an inner container and a pipe arranged inside the outer container ensures independence from the design of the outer container.

To enable the most complete possible emptying of the inner container, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that at least one insert element is provided within the outer container and below the inner container, with which the inner container is held at a distance from the bottom of the outer container, wherein the insert element forms or has a recess in the area of the outlet opening. Consequently, the outlet opening of the inner container can be located below the lowest point of the inner container, so that almost complete removal of the liquid is possible. This avoids the waste of often expensive liquid that would otherwise occur.

Furthermore, the conduit may be a hose or a pipe. A conduit designed in this way can easily convey the liquid. A hose may be made of the same or a similar material as the inner container. In particular, a hose may be formed integrally with the inner container, so that no separate connection of a hose or pipe to the outlet opening of the inner container is necessary.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the inner container may include a closable opening at its upper end for filling and/or returning liquid. Many printing presses not only dispense liquid but also have an ink circulation system, ensuring a constant flow of liquid and preventing it from drying out. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inner container has a capacity between 2 and 20 liters. In this case, a combination of the container arrangement according to the invention with an industrial printing press is particularly possible, which preferably prints large areas of a substrate in operation lasting several hours per day. An embodiment in which the inner container has a capacity of up to 220 liters has also proven advantageous, particularly for enabling longer operating times. In addition, an optional variant, particularly advantageous for use in an intermediate bulk container (IBC), provides for a capacity of up to 1000 liters for the inner container.

It is further advantageous to have a pressure supply device that allows pressure to be exerted on the liquid inside the inner container. Such a pressure supply device ensures that the liquid can also flow over the top edge of the outer container and, in particular, that it can be conveyed at a constant flow rate. A pressure supply device can, in particular, be a feed pump that creates a vacuum via the line, allowing the liquid to be drawn in. A feed pump can be located outside the container assembly. Preferably, this feed pump is an integral part of the printing press. In this case, only the line from the container assembly needs to be connected to the feed pump.

A pressure supply device can also be a compression element that allows the inner container to be compressed. A compression element can, for example, be a piston, particularly a flat weight, which is placed on the inner container and exerts a constant pressure on it. Another conceivable embodiment of a compression element is a spring-loaded plate whose force direction is in the direction of gravity.

As a further special feature, the container arrangement can optionally provide that the inner container is made of a material, preferably a combination of materials, If the inner container is designed in such a way that it provides a gas-tight barrier between the internal volume containing the liquid and the ambient atmosphere prevailing outside the inner container, the influence of the ambient atmosphere on the condition of the liquid contained within the inner container is/is minimized by this gas-tight barrier. For example, the gas-tight barrier can prevent or reduce aging of the liquid by oxidation and/or the enrichment of the liquid, especially a degassed (undersaturated) liquid, with gases or air.

The above-mentioned problem is additionally solved by a method for dispensing liquid from a container arrangement,

• wherein an outer container is provided which is open at its upper end and completely closed at its bottom and at least one side wall,

• wherein a flexible inner container is arranged inside the outer container to enclose the liquid, the flexible inner container having an outlet opening at its lower end through which the liquid is removed,

• wherein a line for extracting the liquid is carried out of the container arrangement, wherein the line is connected at one of its ends to the outlet opening in a fluid-communicating manner, wherein the line is arranged inside the outer container and exits the outer container above its upper end.

This achieves the same advantages as those already described in connection with the container arrangement according to the invention.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are explained in detail with reference to the figures. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination thereof. Within the scope of the entire disclosure, the following apply: Features and details described in connection with the container arrangement according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers to each other or can refer to each other. The single figure shows:

Fig. 1 View of a container arrangement according to the invention

Figure 1 shows a view of a container arrangement 100 according to the invention, which initially comprises an outer container 101. Its upper edge 102 is shown with a dashed line, which is intended to illustrate that the outer container has an upper opening. The outer container provides an interior space for receiving the inner container 103. This inner container includes a lower outlet opening 104 through which the liquid can flow out. An optional connecting nozzle 105 is attached to this outlet opening and is connected to a line, preferably designed as a hose 106, so that the liquid enters the hose. This hose 106 extends upwards beyond the upper edge 102 of the outer container 101. Furthermore, a pump 107 is provided, which creates a vacuum in the hose 106 and in optionally provided further lines 108, thus ensuring that the liquid can be drawn from the inner container despite flowing over the upper edge 102. Pump 107 feeds the liquid into an inking unit of the associated printing press (not shown). The inner container includes an optional upper opening 109, through which the liquid can be dispensed after production. Liquid can also be returned to the inner container via the upper opening as part of an inking cycle within the inking unit and/or for emptying the inking unit. If the upper opening 109 is not required for the purposes described, it can be closed by a cap 110 to prevent liquid from escaping. The liquid in question is, in particular, a printing ink or a cleaning and/or rinsing fluid.

A spacer element 111 can be provided inside the outer container 101, on which the inner container 103 rests. However, the spacer element does not extend over the entire bottom of the outer container, so that the connection nozzle can extend below the surface of the spacer element, allowing the contents of the inner container to be completely removed.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Container arrangement (100) for dispensing liquid • with an outer container (101) which is open at its upper end and is completely closed at its bottom and at least one side wall, • with a flexible inner container (103) for enclosing the liquid, wherein the flexible inner container can be arranged within the outer container (101) and can be displaced relative to the outer container (101), wherein the flexible inner container (103) has an outlet opening (104) at its lower end for removing the liquid, and • with a line (108) for extracting the liquid, wherein the line (108) is fluidly connected at one of its ends to the outlet opening (104), wherein the line (108) is arranged inside the outer container (101) and exits the outer container (101) above its upper end, so that the liquid can be discharged from the container arrangement (100). 2. Container arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein an insert element is provided inside the outer container (101) and below the inner container (103), with which the inner container (103) can be held at a distance from the bottom of the outer container (101), wherein the insert element has a recess in the area of the outlet opening (104). 3. Container arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line (108) is a hose or a pipe. 4. Container arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner container (103) comprises a closable opening at its upper end for filling and/or returning liquid. 5. Container arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner container (103) comprises a receiving volume between 2 and 20 liters, in particular up to 220 liters, particularly preferably up to 1000 liters. 6. Container arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure supply device is provided with which pressure can be exerted on the liquid inside the inner container. 7. Container arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner container (103) is made of a material, preferably a combination of materials, such that the inner container (103) provides a gas-tight barrier between an internal volume receiving the liquid and an ambient atmosphere prevailing outside the inner container (103). 8. Method for dispensing liquid from a container arrangement (100), • wherein an outer container (101) is provided which is open at its upper end and is completely closed at its bottom and at least one side wall, • wherein a flexible inner container (103) is arranged inside the outer container (101) to enclose the liquid, wherein the flexible inner container (103) has an outlet opening at its lower end through which the liquid is removed, • wherein a line (108) is used to remove the liquid from the container arrangement, wherein the line is connected at one of its ends to the outlet opening (104) in a fluid-communicating manner, wherein the line (108) is within of the outer container (101) is arranged and protrudes from the outer container (101) above the upper end.