GB2356385A

GB2356385A - Package for storing and dispensing two incompatible components

Info

Publication number: GB2356385A
Application number: GB9923998A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John David Hurrell
Original assignee: Hoechst Schering Agrevo GmbH
Current assignee: Bayer CropScience AG
Priority date: 1999-10-12
Filing date: 1999-10-12
Publication date: 2001-05-23
Also published as: GB9923998D0

Abstract

A package 1 for storing and dispensing simultaneously two components which may be incompatible such as agrochemicals components, comprises a vessel 2 for holding a first non-aqueous fluid component and having an outlet, a cradle 3 extending within the vessel 2 also having an outlet and at least one perforation 5, and an envelope 4 of water soluble film surrounding a second component and being supported in the cradle 3, the two outlets being sized and arranged to form a single dispensing outlet. When the package is orientated to a dispensing position, the envelope containing the second component falls from the cradle 3 through the dispensing outlet and the first component flows from the vessel 2 through the perforations and out of the dispensing outlet. The cradle 3 may be attached to the vessel 2 by glue or welded or may have parts that mate with parts on the vessel 2, alternatively the cradle 3 may have a flanged rim 7 having an outer diameter greater than the vessel neck, so that when the cradle 3 is inserted into the neck, the underside of the flanged rim 7 rests on the rim of the vessel neck.. The perforations 5 may be small enough to prevent the envelope entering the vessel 2, but large enough for fluid to flow from the package and may include an aperture 6 covered by a penetrable material to allow a rinsing probe through the cradle 3 to facilitate cleaning/rinsing of the vessel 2.

Description

2356385 NovelPackage This invention relates to packages for storing and

dispensing a plurality of components, which components may be incompatible. 5 Agrochernical products are increasingly used in combinations to provide increased efficacy. For reasons of convenience, safety of use and cost of manufacture, it is advantageous for such combinations to be incorporated within a single package. Where the plurality of products are compatible, i.e. they do not interact chemically or physically, it is preferable to manufacture a single formulation which has the desired shelf life. However, often combinations of products are not compatible and simply cannot be mixed into a formulation having the desired shelf life.

There have been a several attempts at combining incompatible components into a single package. One such attempt involves a rigid package having a plurality of chambers, however, these packages are costly to produce. Alternatively packaging involving water-soluble film such as polyvinylalcohol (PVA) has been used as a mechanism of keeping incompatible products separated until mixing in the spray tank. One such package uses bag-in-bag technology, however this technology is prone to envelop rupture.

We have now devised a package which addresses the abovementioned drawbacks.

Our invention provides a package for storing and dispensing simultaneously first and second components comprising:

i) a vessel for holding a first non-aqueous fluid component, the vessel having an outlet; ii) a cradle, extending within the vessel, and also having an outlet and at least 30 one perforation; and iii) an envelope of water soluble film surrounding a second component, which envelope is supported in the cradle; wherein the two outlets are sized and arranged to form a single dispensing outlet, whereby when the package is orientated to a dispensing position, the envelope 35 containing the second component falls from the cradle through the dispensing 2 outlet and the first component flows from the vessel through the perforations and out of the dispensing outlet.

The package avoids the problem of envelope rupture commonly experienced with bag-in-bag technology. The cradle supports the envelope so as to reduce its movement and thereby prevent abrasion of the envelop which may cause it to rupture during transport.

A particular advantage of the package is that it can be adapted simply and at low cost from commercially available vessels. In a preferred embodiment, the cradle is sized and arranged so as to be held within the neck of commercially available vessels.

The cradle can be held within the neck of commercially available vessels by a variety of holding means. For example the cradle may be glued or welded to the vessel. Alternatively, the cradle may have parts which mate with parts on the vessel neck so as to securely hold cradle therein.

The perforations must be sufficiently small to prevent the envelope entering the vessel, yet large enough for fluid to flow from the package at a rate acceptable to the agricultural operator.

Typically, pesticide-contaminated vessels must be water rinsed to a prescribed standard prior to disposal or incineration. It is therefore helpful if the cradle is fashioned to facilitate rinsing. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment the cradle has an aperture near its innermost point to receive a rinsing probe. It is preferred that this aperture is covered by a material which is readily penetrable by the rinsing probe. A preferred material is water soluble film.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the Figures.

Figure 1 is a cut-away, side view of an embodiment of the package showing the cradle held within the neck of a vessel.

3 Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the cradle.

Figure 1 shows package 1 comprising a vessel 2, cradle 3 and envelope 4. In this instance, vessel 2 is a commercially available pack known as the Hazel Pack (Registered Trade Mark). Cradle 3 is held within the neck portion of vessel 2, such that the outlets of vessel 2 and cradle 3 coincide. Cradle 3 comprises a number of perforations 5 on its walls and base. Perforations 5 are sufficiently small to prevent the envelope passing into the vessel 2, and large and numerous enough for the vessel contents to drain freely. Cradle 3 also comprises an aperture 6 in its base for insertion of a rinsing probe.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the cradle 3. Cradle 3 has circular cross section enclosed at one end (except for perforations 5), and has a flanged rim 7 at the other end. The outer diameter of the cradle is less than the inner diameter of the vessel neck, and the outer diameter of the flanged rim is greater than the vessel neck, so that when the cradle is inserted into the neck the underside of flanged rim 7 rests on the rim of the vessel neck.

4

Claims

Claim

1 A package for storing and dispensing simultaneously first and second components comprising:

i) a vessel for holding a first non-aqueous fluid component, the vessel having an outlet; ii) a cradle, extending within the vessel, and also having an outlet and at least one perforation; and iii) an envelope of water soluble film surrounding a second component, which envelope is supported in the cradle; wherein the two outlets are sized and arranged to form a single dispensing outlet, whereby when the package is orientated to a dispensing position, the envelope containing the second component falls from the cradle through the dispensing outlet and the first component flows from the vessel through the perforations and out of the dispensing outlet.