Depletion device for bag in box containing viscous liquid

Abstract

A depletion device of a bag-in-box container for viscous ink comprises an elongated tube extending into the bag. The tube is preferably cylindrical and has a plurality of holes in its side wall. The holes are arranged in columns so as to define longitudinal ribs in the side wall of the tube. Holes in adjacent columns are offset relative to one another. The depletion device maximizes the amount of ink that can be extracted from the bag by preventing the collapsing bag closing off the depletion device.

1 . A depletion device to allow a viscous liquid to be extracted from a bag, the device comprising: 
 a port for protruding through an aperture in the bag having connection means for connection to an extractor;    a hollow elongated tube for extending into the interior of the bag, said tube having a hollow interior in fluid communication with said port defined by a tube side wall; and    a plurality of through-holes formed in said side wall, the total area of the through-holes being greater than 50% of the area of the side wall.    
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the tube is cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein total area of the through-holes is greater than 60% of the area of the side wall.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein total area of the through-holes is in the range of from 55 to 65% of the area of the side wall.  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the through-holes are arranged in columns separated by a plurality of longitudinal ribs.  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein through-holes in one column are offset longitudinally relative to through-holes in an adjacent column.  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6  wherein there are no continuous ribs between through-holes that extend around the complete circumference of the tube.  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the total width of said ribs is less than 30% of the circumference of said tube.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the total width of said ribs is in the range of 20 to 25% of the circumference of said tube.  
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the through-holes are disposed across substantially the whole area of the tube.  
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein there are 40 or more through-holes.  
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein there are 70 or more through-holes.  
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the end of the tube farthest from the port is open.  
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1  further comprising a bag attachment portion between the port and the tube, said attachment portion including a sealing portion shaped so as to be sealable into the seam of a bag.  
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the sealing portion is substantially a parallelogram in cross-section.  
   
   
       16 . A container comprising a bag into which is sealed a depletion device according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16  further comprising a box surrounding the bag and wherein the port of the depletion device protrudes form an aperture in said box.  
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 16  wherein said bag contains a viscous liquid.  
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 18  wherein said viscous liquid has a viscosity of greater than 12 Pa·s measured at 23□ using a Bohlin CS10 rheometer equipped with a 25 mm cone (2□ angle) applying a Casson model.  
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 18  wherein said viscous liquid is an ink.  
   
   
       21 . A depletion device to allow a viscous liquid to be extracted from a bag, the device comprising: 
 a port for connection to a liquid extractor; and    a hollow elongated tube for extending into an interior of the bag having a side wall defining a hollow interior;    a plurality of through-holes formed in said side wall arranged in columns to define longitudinal ribs and circumferential ribs in said sidewall; and    holes in adjacent columns being offset relative to each other to prevent a collapsing bag from closing off the elongated tube as liquid is depleted from the bag.    
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 21  wherein total area of the through-holes is in the range of from 50 to 65% of the area of the side wall.  
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 21  wherein there are no continuous circumferential ribs between through-holes that extend around the complete circumference of the tube.  
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 23  wherein the total width of said circumferential ribs is in the range of 20 to 25% of the circumference of said tube.