DE602004011312T2 - Bag-like container with sealed pouring spout - Google Patents

Abstract

In a flexible envelope-like or bag-like container (1) made of composite material, provided with a delivery spout (11) made of rigid plastics material heat-sealed to the composite material of the envelope or bag, the exposed end (12) of the delivery spout, which may be inserted in a user's mouth, is closed by a membrane seal (17) which is heat-sealed on the top of the end and folded around the entire exposed portion for the protection thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

The The present invention relates to a flexible bag-type container for liquids or pasty substances, in particular foods, the with a spout is provided.

rigid, semi-rigid and flexible disposable containers generally become large scale used in the distribution of food products.

To the Example are semi-rigid box-shaped container Composite material, cardboard, metal or plastic materials for distribution of drinks and fruit juices known.

These container have one small opening, by a thin one Part made of aluminum or composite material is closed.

to Distribution will be these containers in small plastic cases packed, which both the container as well as a drinking straw, with which the user the Perforated seal and then drinks the contents of the container.

The Outer shell is necessary to ensure that the straw is not up to the Time of use is lost and before the straw from the outside protect against future pollution, as required by hygiene standards.

For a packaging of this kind are a rather complex manufacturing cycle and noticeable costs required, and it can not be easily used by the user become.

Furthermore make the steps to open the shell necessary to use the product during various activities, for Example during of walking, impossible or at least very complicated.

One another type of disposable container for liquids and pasty substances, which has recently become widespread and is very popular with consumers, is one flexible bag made of laminated films, which with a rigid spout with a cap is closed, which in general with a Ring seal is provided.

The Closure cap from the outside on the spout is screwed on, provides effective hygienic protection on End of the spout for sure.

An example of this type of container will be more fully described in the European patent EP 751 081 described.

Even though this type of container which allows easier and faster use of the content he also has disadvantages.

Of the Process to close of the container during the Filling and Sealing process requires the use of a rather complex machinery for screwing on the cap with a controlled tightening torque and includes the cost of a fixed investment, which adds to the casting costs the screw cap and added a considerable Influence on the total cost of product packaging, in particular in packs for only one serving, in which the function of the screw cap only consists of the product until the time of use to protect and to preserve.

Even though the product compared to the containers described above easier to use is for unscrewing the cap also a little mindfulness and Effort required, which is poorly agreed with other activities can be.

The overcomes the present invention These disadvantages and provides a low-cost, flexible container whose Production is simplified and easier to use; the container with a spout is hygienically protected by a membrane and is sealed, preferably in the form of a multilayer composite film, the at the end of the spout welded is and around the entire spout flattened to form a hygienic protective enclosure.

Welded membrane seals, the opening can be deducted are well known on rigid or semi-rigid containers, but that Aim of the protection of outsides of the container was not suggested.

Furthermore, to open to allow to dispose she over a loose strip outside the weld, which offers a minimal grip and is particularly brittle.

Of the Deduction process is particularly tricky, and it is as a result of a demolished Streaking often necessary, the seal with a sharp or sharp device break up and remove.

For example, leads JP 2000 033958 a flexible container according to the pre-characterizing part of the main claim 1.

This Problem is solved by the present invention, as the Umfangseinfassung the seal can simply be "pulled off", and It is easy to grab once it has been opened, leaving the triggering process in different directions along the entire sealing area can be made, giving the desired result without difficulty or make a special effort.

The Features and advantages of the present invention will be from the following description of a preferred embodiment and their variants more clearly, with reference to the drawings is made in the appendix, in which:

1 Figure 11 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the flexible bag-type container with a spout closed with a membrane seal according to the present invention;

2 in a perspective view of the spout of 1 in a first phase of sealing with a membrane seal,

3 in a perspective view of the spout of 1 in a second phase of sealing with a membrane seal,

4 in a perspective view of the spout of 1 after a completed sealing process shows

5 shows in a perspective view a variant of the sealing design after a completed sealing operation,

6 in a perspective view of a variant of the spout for the container of 1 shows,

7 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first variant of the flexible container with sealed spout according to the present invention; FIG.

8th FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second variant of the sealed-mouthed flexible container according to the present invention; FIG.

9 3 is a perspective view of a third variant of the flexible container with the sealed spout according to the present invention;

10 a schematic section through the container of 9 along the line AA of 9 is

11 a perspective view of 9 from below in the filled state,

12 is a schematic front view of a fourth variant of the flexible container with sealed spout according to the present invention,

13 a schematic section through the container of 12 along the BB line of 12 is

14 is a schematic front view of another variant of the flexible container with sealed spout according to the present invention,

15 a schematic section through the container of 14 along the line CC of 14 is and

16 a perspective view of 14 from above is in the filled state.

With reference to 1 For example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible, bag-type container of a type known per se (e.g. EP 751 081 ), the innovative aspect being the closure system.

The container 1 Conventionally, it consists of a pair of juxtaposed front and rear sheets of composite material and two gussets folded like bellows and positioned between the two front and back foils.

The two foils and the gussets are heat sealed together circumferentially, and when the container is filled assume the shape indicated in the drawing in which the front foil 2 and the gusset 3 are visible.

The dashed line 4 gives the fold line of the spout 3 at.

The stripes between the edges of the container and the dashed lines 5 . 6 . 7 and 8th and the solid line 9 correspond to the heat sealing areas.

One usually for the Production of containers This material used is a composite sheet of polyester (PET), the outside mounted on an aluminum foil (A1) inside with a polythene (PE), possibly with a connecting film of nylon (N) attached in between.

The Heat sealing material with a lower softening point is due to the polyethylene film educated.

The container is conventionally provided with a spout formed by a drinking straw of plastic material, preferably polypropylene, with a part 10 which is housed in the container and an outer part 11 at which in the order an outer smooth end part 12 , an outer threaded piece 13 , a toothed piece 14 intended for irreversible engagement in a ring seal of a closure cap, and a crimped portion external to at least one, generally two polygonal flanges 15 . 16 provided for the relative positioning of the bag and the spout during the assembly process and as a rigid gripping and positioning element during the filling and sealing process.

Unlike known containers of this type, the container is replaced by a membrane seal 17 closed, which is heat-sealed on the upper end of the spout with a conventional method for the manufacture of the container (hot iron, ultrasound, high frequency induction).

The membrane seal 17 is preferably formed by a composite material, a laminated film piece which essentially forms an outer polyester layer (optionally printed inside) which ensures the required mechanical tear resistance, an aluminum interlayer and a layer of a very strongly adhesive lacquer or plastic film which is connected to the upper side of the Spout is connected.

When Specification, the aluminum layer has a thickness of 40 microns, the polyester layer a thickness of 12 microns and the paint layer have a thickness of 5 microns.

The essential aspect of the invention is that the seal is formed by a piece of foil which is preferably disk-shaped, with a diameter which is substantially larger than the outside diameter of the spout and preferably not smaller than the sum of the outside diameter of the cylindrical spout part 12 and twice the axial extent thereof.

2 to 4 make this aspect clear.

In 2 , which shows a first stage of the sealing process of the container (which of course happens immediately after filling), becomes the membrane seal 17 pointing to the upper part 12 of the spout is pressed by conventional mechanical equipment, heat-welded (with a ring-shaped hot iron, ultrasonically or by induction), ensuring a perfect adhesive bond of the seal to the top of the spout.

The weld area is through the circular ring 18 specified.

As in 3 shown, folded during the same welding operation or shortly thereafter a suitably shaped socket the ring of the membrane seal 17 , which is located outside the welding area, and presses it flat, so that it is wrapped tightly around the cylindrical end part of the spout, as in 4 shown.

The End of the spout is thus before any direct contact with the outside during subsequent handling protected.

Although not essential, since the surface roughness of the flattened seal allows for easy opening, the diaphragm seal can 17 be pressed flat so that they projecting strips 19 forms, as in 5 shown, which further facilitate the deployment process.

Of course, the use of a disc-shaped seal 17 especially for aesthetic reasons, nothing precludes the use of polygonal or square pieces as seals, which in any case must be of such dimensions that they contain a circle with a diameter at least equal to that indicated above.

1 to 5 refer to a conventional container in which a spout is provided with thread, and therefore by a screw cap or, without modifications, by a folded membrane seal, as provided in the present invention, can be closed.

This allows considerable savings in production through mass production, because the same type of spout just as well for making multi-serving containers, whose contents can be consumed at different times, and which can be closed by caps, or container for a helping, in which the membrane seal is preferred, can be used.

It However, it is clear that the invention in its simplicity another Diversification and simplification of the product allowed.

For example, if the container of 1 exclusively for closing by means of a membrane drain In his design, he can design a spout like the one in 6 shown used, in which the outer threaded part is missing; if desired, this conveniently allows for a longer axial extension of the smooth tail which, inter alia, may assume an oval cross-section which fits more conveniently in the mouth, since the restriction of the circularity of the thread is no longer valid.

Moreover, according to the invention, the flexible container with the spout sealed with a membrane seal can very clearly consist of a sleeve-like container, as in US Pat 7 shown simply by two juxtaposed foils welded together at the peripheral sides rather than a bag-like container.

This leads to the assessment a considerable technical advantage offered by the invention.

In a sheath-type or bag-type container with a spout closed by a membrane seal, it is not necessary to exert a torque for screwing on a cap, whereby the in 6 Spout design shown can be further simplified.

In known containers, the spout has two rigid burrs 20 . 21 substantially arranged to form a rigid configuration for gripping the container, whereby a suitable Aufschraubdrehmoment between the container and the Schraubverschlusskappe can be exercised without the risk of damage to the flexible container is.

If the spout is closed by a membrane seal, this is no longer necessary and a spout with a burr or two burrs 20 . 21 can be used.

It thus becomes possible to produce an extremely simple, very cost-effective, envelope-like (or even pocket-like) container, such as that in US Pat 8th shown.

A single film, for example, a rectangular sheet of composite material (for example, PET, A1, PE) along the line 28 folded on itself forms a shell with three sides 22 . 23 . 24 , which are heat sealed together, after insertion, along the folded side, a drinking straw 25 which is outside the shell in the form of a spout 26 extends, which is provided with flanges for handling the container.

Once the container has been filled with the product, the spout becomes a diaphragm seal 27 of the type already described.

This container type is for suitable for mass production, with a single strip of composite film begins to work during of the manufacturing process is folded into itself and during the Edge welding process is cut into sections by an extremely simple apparatus.

The empty container can in big Quantities in extremely small volumes for distribution in the food industry be sealed, after completion of the filling a seal with a membrane seal by conventional Medium (hot Iron, ultrasound, etc.).

Furthermore can Of course, further variations are introduced.

For example, as in the schematic front view of 9 and in cross-section of 10 shown when a gusset 30 along the continuous line 31 folded on top of itself (with a heat sealable side out), between the lower positions of the two juxtaposed slides 29A . 29B is positioned, and the two juxtaposed foils and the intervening gusset along the perimeter 32 are welded together, it is possible to produce a combined envelope / bag-like container with a bellows-like expansion base which opens after filling to form a relatively flat base, which is clearly in the perspective view of 11 is visible.

This creative solution can be used as a variant of in 7 be considered.

A similar variant can be made by using the shell of 8th starts, as in the front view of 12 and in the associated cross section of 13 shown.

In this case, the lower gusset lies 35 that in itself along the line 33 folded, between, diagonally relative to the vertical extent of the container, between two juxtaposed sides of a single folded film 34 ,

The heat sealing of the different elements together, along the line 36 shown as a dashed line, results in a combined envelope / bag-like container with a bellows-type extension base that opens to a relatively flat, but somewhat To form the vertical extent of the container inclined stand side.

Clearly, the inclination of the footprint relative to the vertical extent of the container can be reduced or avoided altogether by tapering the container in the upper region, as in FIG 12 shown.

In another variant, in the front view of 14 and in cross-section of 15 is shown, each of the two sides of the slide 37 , which in itself along the fold line 38 folded on the ground by an uneven triangular appendage 39 with an obtuse angle 42 (preferably 120 °) extended.

A gusset 40 who are on themselves along a line 41 folded, which is the vertex 42 of the triangular appendage lies between the two sides in the area of the edges away from the fold line 38 ,

The fold line 41 can the top edge 43 the folded foil 37 cut at any point, but preferably as shown, at the end away from the spout.

If the different elements have a heat seal along the dashed line 44 , a bag-like container is formed, in which the lower portion, by triangular appendages and by the interposed part of the side fold 40 is formed when filling the container is bent to form a triangular bottom surface.

The perspective view of 16 shows a container of this type after filling.

Claims (7)

Flexible envelope or bag-like container ( 1 ) made of composite material with a spout ( 11 ) made of hard plastic material which is heat-sealed to the composite material of the sheath or pocket, the spout being disposed outside the container by at least one smooth end cylinder ( 12 ) intended for insertion into the mouth of a user, characterized in that the smooth cylinder ( 12 ) by a membrane seal ( 17 ) is made of composite material which is heat-sealed attached to the end of the cylinder and a part of which is pressed flat around the cylinder to cover the outside, characterized in that the part of the membrane seal ( 17 ) pressed flat and folded in itself so that at least one gripping nose ( 19 ) is formed. Container according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder ( 12 ) has an annular cross-section and the membrane seal is formed by a composite disc having a diameter which is not smaller than the sum of the cylinder diameter and twice the axial extent of the cylinder. Container according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder ( 12 ) has an oval cross-section and the membrane seal is formed by a composite disc having a diameter which is not less than the sum of the largest diameter of the oval cross section and twice the axial extent of the cylinder. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by two sheets ( 29A . 29B ), which are juxtaposed with an intermediate distance between the ends of the foils away from the spout, by means of a gusset ( 30 ) folded in on itself to form an expansion bellows. A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, comprising a sheet of composite material which, in itself, extends along a folding line ( 28 ) is folded to form two opposite container walls, and in which the spout ( 25 . 26 ) is inserted between the opposite sides in the region of the fold line. Container according to claim 5, in which a gusset ( 35 ), which is folded in itself and forms an expansion bellows, is inserted between the ends of the walls away from the spout. Container according to claim 5, in which the end of each wall ( 37 ) away from the spout by an uneven triangular appendix ( 39 ) with obtuse angled vertices ( 42 ) and a gusset ( 40 ), which in itself along the folding line ( 41 ), which is approximately the vertex ( 42 ) cuts between the walls ( 37 ), wherein the gusset forms an expansion bellows and together with the triangular attachments ( 39 ) the walls also forms a triangular base of the container.