Recyclable aerosol can with depressurisation system and tool for depressurising such a can

Abstract

A recyclable aerosol can including a barrel, a dome, a valve support and a base. The base of the can is perforated at the centre thereof with a hole receiving an elastomer insert or plug crimped in the hole. The insert includes an upper part and a lower part joined by a constriction in order to be accommodated in the peripheral wall of the hole in order to form a sealed plug once inserted into the hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recyclable aerosol can having a barrel, a dome which holds a valve, and a bottom, characterized in that the bottom of the can is pierced at its center with a hole which receives an elastomer plug or insert crimped into the hole, the insert having an upper portion and a lower portion that are joined by a constriction for receiving the peripheral wall of the hole so as to form a sealed plug once it has been inserted in the hole. 
     
     
         2 . The can as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the hole is such that the can retains good resistance to pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The can as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the insert forms a substantially spherical or oval cap having a domed upper face and a flat lower face, and the lower portion of the insert is a frustoconical portion which flares out away from its junction with the flat lower face of the upper portion at the constriction. 
     
     
         4 . The can as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the constriction between the lower portion and the upper portion of the insert has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the hole, so as to produce a sealed junction with the bottom of the can. 
     
     
         5 . The can as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a base of the upper portion of the insert has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole, this diameter being determined to allow both forcible passage of the upper portion through the hole and retention of the upper portion under the pressure of the gas in the can, and also sealing of the insert/bottom connection. 
     
     
         6 . A depressurization system for a recyclable can, characterized in that it has a can as claimed in  claim 1  and a depressurization tool comprising a support provided with a bottom having a domed upper face, which has a curvature that matches the external surface of the bottom of the can and is provided with a central punch, which protrudes from a central portion of the bottom and is designed to drive the insert into the can, the central punch having a point provided with a tubular central channel that opens into a vent under the tool to allow a gas to be discharged and expand under the tool. 
     
     
         7 . The depressurization system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the tool is supplemented by a reservoir, placed under the tool, for collecting product residues. 
     
     
         8 . The depressurization system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the base of the central punch is surrounded by an O-ring to prevent product from spraying out around the punch when the insert is driven into the can by the punch. 
     
     
         9 . The depressurization system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the tool has a peripheral wall around the bottom of the tool, said wall forming a guide for inserting the bottom of the can into the tool and pushing the insert back into the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A method for emptying an aerosol can by means of the system as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising the following sequence of steps:
 moving the bottom of the can closer to the housing of the tool above the bottom of the tool, with the punch projecting from the bottom of the tool being directed toward the insert;   pressing the bottom of the can into the tool so that the front point of the punch drives the insert into the can, with the barrel of the can being held by the peripheral wall of the tool;   allowing the residual gas and the residual active product to be discharged from the pierced aerosol can via the channel formed in the punch;   
       in such a way that the pierced can, which has been emptied of its residual contents, can pass to a recycling facility for metal packaging.