EP4056488B1 - Pouring element and composite package with improved opening behaviour - Google Patents

Description

• einen Grundkörper mit einem Flansch, einer hohlzylinderförmigen Tülle, die eine Zentralachse definiert, und einem in der Tülle ausgebildeten Verschlussteil, das im Wesentlichen orthogonal zur Zentralachse verläuft, mit einem zentralen Bereich und einer ringförmig um den zentralen Bereich verlaufenden Schwächungszone, wobei zwischen Schwächungszone und zentralem Bereich ein konusringförmiger Zwischenbereich ausgeformt ist,
• ein in der Tülle bewegbar geführtes, hohlzylinderförmiges Schneidelement mit mindestens einem Schneidzahn zur Durchtrennung der Schwächungszone zur Öffnung der Tülle und Verbundpackung,
• eine wiederverschließbare Schraubkappe, die beim erstmaligen Öffnen der Verbundpackung zum Antreiben des Schneidelements dient.

The invention relates to a pouring element for a composite package comprising:

• a base body with a flange, a hollow cylindrical spout defining a central axis, and a closure part formed in the spout, which extends substantially orthogonally to the central axis, with a central region and a weakening zone extending annularly around the central region, wherein a conical ring-shaped intermediate region is formed between the weakening zone and the central region,
• a hollow cylindrical cutting element movably guided in the spout with at least one cutting tooth for cutting through the weakened zone to open the spout and composite packaging,
• a resealable screw cap which serves to drive the cutting element when the composite package is opened for the first time.

Such pouring elements are integrated as part of the gable of the composite packaging to simplify handling when pouring and to enable the possibility of re-closing. This type of pouring element is used, for example, in the EP-A-2 627 569 of the applicant. The hollow-cylindrical cutting element opens the base body and thus the previously gas-tight package for the first time, thus forming a pouring opening, whereby the screw cap enables the now opened composite package to be resealed. The cutting element, which is movably guided in the spout, is provided with force transfer elements and is driven by corresponding force transmission elements on the cap. During the initial opening process, the cutting element approaches the closure part and after the first contact between the two elements, the cutting tooth of the cutting element separates the closure part approximately in the area of the weakening zone. The path of movement that the cutting element covers corresponds to the ring-shaped weakening zone.

The opening process can be divided into the following sections, for example. The previously mentioned approach of the cutting element can also be omitted if the two elements already touch when assembled. After that the cutting element moves through the closure part and separates it with the cutting tooth along a cutting line. This separation process is a combination of separation, plastic deformation and material displacement, whereby an even and controlled application of the forces is advantageous. As soon as a large part of the circumference has been separated, the cutting element begins to fold the closure part to the side, thus exposing the spout for the contents. The folding away takes place with the help of the remaining part of the weakened zone that was not separated as a pivot axis, with first the cutting tooth and then, as the folding away takes place, the outside of the cutting element exerting force on the closure part and thus pushing it to the side. After the pouring element has been completely opened, the closure part is approximately parallel to the central axis Z along the outer wall of the screwed-in cutting element.

Pouring elements with such a closure part are mainly, but not exclusively, used in aseptic packages. Previously sterilized foods are packaged under aseptic conditions in packaging that is also sterilized in order to then obtain so-called aseptic packages. Apart from the question of asepticity, there are various types of composite packages into which a pouring element according to the invention can be integrated.

In a first type, the pouring element is an integral part of the composite packaging, which is introduced during the manufacturing process. Usually, in a so-called "form-fill-seal" packaging machine (FFS), blanks made of composite material, which are first formed into packaging sleeves by sealing the longitudinal seam, are first connected to the pouring element. These half-molds, which are open on one side, are then filled with the filling material and then sealed. The first step can be provided in different ways: For example, the flange can be connected to one side of the packaging sleeve by means of another plastic element that is injection-molded directly in the packaging machine. The flange can also be welded directly to the packaging sleeve or even glued to it without using an additional plastic element. The flange can either be the same size as the opening of the packaging sleeve or smaller in order to save plastic. In the case of a smaller flange, the surfaces of the packing jacket must be folded together and then placed on the flange and welded. The composite packing then preferably has polyhedral gable surfaces which are connected to the polyhedral flange of the pouring element in a corresponding manner, the polyhedral flange essentially corresponding to a truncated pyramid.

In a second type, a composite package is initially produced that is completely sealed, with a punched hole in the composite package, usually in the gable area, into which a pouring element is inserted. The pouring element is usually inserted by welding the flange to at least one layer of the composite material, but alternatively these parts can also be glued. This second type of composite package is characterized above all by the fact that the pouring element can be inserted independently of the production of the composite package. The hole can be made and the pouring element can therefore be inserted before, during or after the composite package itself is produced. Both steps are preferably carried out before production in order to avoid making the packaging machines themselves unnecessarily complicated. This arrangement of the production steps also represents the simplest way of inserting the pouring element into the punched hole from the inside. Such a composite package is in turn normally produced in one of two types of packaging machines. In this first alternative, a continuous web of sterilized composite material is formed into a tube and sealed, after which it is filled with the sterilized filling material and sealed and cut at regular intervals across it. The resulting "packaging cushions" are then formed into parallelepiped packages along the pre-folded edges. The sealing seam created in the gable area during transverse sealing is usually referred to as the gable seam. The second alternative uses blanks made of composite material, which are first formed into packaging sleeves by sealing the longitudinal seam and then formed on mandrels into packaging bodies that are open on one side, then sterilized, filled, and finally sealed and finally formed. The gable area can be designed in different ways, for example as a parallel surface to the base area (flat gable packaging), as a flat gable package that is at least partially formed at an angle to the base area. surface (sloping gable packing) or as a gable roof with two opposite, sloping surfaces ("gable-top" packing).

The exact layer structure of the composite material can vary depending on requirements, but consists at least of a carrier layer made of cardboard and cover layers made of plastic. In addition, a barrier layer, for example aluminum (Al), polyamide (PA) or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), may be necessary to ensure an increased barrier effect against gases and, in the case of aluminum, light in aseptic filling goods. Therefore, such composite packaging is also referred to as cardboard/plastic composite packaging. If the pouring element is integrated as part of the composite packaging, it should have a barrier effect against gases and light that is similar to that of the composite material used. At the same time, of course, inexpensive materials should be used that are easy to recycle together. This is particularly true for the materials of the pouring elements used.

Unfortunately, such material combinations lead to poorer opening results. For example, when the closure part is separated by the cutting element in the area of the weakened zone, plastic deformation of the plastic in the weakened zone can occur without being completely severed, which leads to thread-like remnants remaining. It can also happen that at the end of the opening process the closure part does not fold cleanly to the side because the cutting tooth of the cutting element does not transfer the force cleanly to the central area of the closure part during rotation. A less rigid or hard cutting element material often leads to the cutting tooth not moving in a clean circular path corresponding to the weakened zone, which in turn produces a less controlled and reproducible opening result. It can even happen that the weakened zone is severed all the way around, which allows an open composite package, but with a loose closure part inside the package, which should be avoided at all costs.

Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of designing the pouring element mentioned at the beginning and described in more detail above in such a way that to further develop the system so that the disadvantages described can be overcome despite the given choice of materials.

This object is achieved in a pouring element with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that the cutting element and the closure part are designed in such a way that before the first opening at least part of a projection of the

Cutting tooth parallel to the central axis on the intermediate area. The object is also achieved by two design variants of a composite package for liquid foodstuffs, which is designed in such a way that a pouring element according to the invention is integrated into the respective gable area of the composite package.

This arrangement of the cutting element and the parts of the closure part enables a clearly defined and smooth cutting process by supporting the cutting tooth on the intermediate area. When the closure part is folded away, the force applied to the conical ring-shaped intermediate area ensures that this process is initiated cleanly on the one hand, but that the closure part is later folded completely to the side. In other words, the cutting element and the closure part are designed in such a way that the cutting tooth hits the intermediate area when the composite package is opened for the first time and exerts force on it. This is the case because the cutting element moves towards the closure element (parallel to the central axis) while simultaneously rotating around the central axis. The projection therefore defines the radial position at which the cutting element hits the various areas of the closure part, which are largely separated during the opening process. Unexpectedly, it has been shown that it is advantageous if the cutting element does not only hit the weakened zone, but also the intermediate area located further radially inside and separates the closure element there. Even with the force applied to the two areas, the weakened zone is still the thinnest area of the closure element and is therefore preferably separated by the cutting element, but the arrangement and design of the base body and cutting element according to the invention ensures that the closure element is separated cleanly and in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the folding away of the closure element at the end of the opening process can also be achieved. facilitated thanks to an increased lever of force application from the inner wall of the spout.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the weakened zone has less than 50% of the height of the central area measured parallel to the central axis. This guarantees a clean separation of the weakened zone, combined with a stable central area that can also be folded completely to the side at the end of the opening process.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the weakened zone extends between an inner radius and an outer radius essentially orthogonal to the central axis. A base body with a weakened zone designed in this way is easier to manufacture and also enables a more controlled separation and opening of the thin spot.

A further embodiment of the invention, which further enhances these effects, provides that the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius is at least twice as large as the height of the weakened zone, measured parallel to the central axis.

According to a further teaching of the invention, an inner radius of the hollow cylindrical cutting element should make up a maximum of 95% of the inner radius of the weakened zone. This dimension for the overlap of the cutting element and the intermediate area, defined by the limiting radii, enables an improved effect of the cutting and folding process described above.

In another practical embodiment, the weakened zone is connected directly to the spout. On the one hand, this makes it easier to produce the base body because the transition area between the spout and the closure part can be shaped more beautifully. On the other hand, the forces during the separation process are better transmitted and absorbed by the spout.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cutting tooth is ground on the inside at the end facing the weakening zone. This results in There is a cutting blade on the cutting tooth, which on the one hand facilitates the immersion into the closure part and on the other hand forms a surface corresponding to the surface of the conical ring-shaped intermediate region, which is therefore arranged approximately parallel to it. During the opening process, the corresponding surfaces of the cutting tooth and the intermediate region come into contact, since the cutting element moves along the central axis and at least part of a projection of the cutting tooth along the central axis lies on the intermediate region. This then guarantees better power transmission over a larger area from the cutting element to the intermediate region.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the grinding of the cutting tooth continuously transitions with respect to and along the central axis from a beveled inner surface to an inner surface that is parallel to the central axis. This makes it possible for the cutting tooth to be in contact with the intermediate area not only at the beginning of the cutting process, but also to continue to exert force on it during the further movement of the cutting element along the central axis. Of course, this also allows the entire cutting element to be made lighter without losing the previously mentioned advantages.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the cutting tooth extends at the end facing the weakening zone in the circumferential direction in a plane orthogonal to the central axis. The flattened end of the cutting tooth ensures that the cutting tooth separates the weakening zone more stably and is guided along the intermediate region. If the part of the projection on the intermediate region is so large that this end extending in the circumferential direction in a plane orthogonal to the central axis is arranged above the intermediate region, it also ensures that this cutting edge of the cutting tooth is cleanly guided outwards from the intermediate region until it reaches an area that is thin enough to be separated, such as the weakening zone itself.

A further development of the invention is that the cutting element is designed to be thickened radially inwards in the area of the cutting tooth. A reinforcement in the alignment of the cutting tooth guarantees that the forces which arise during the various Phases of the opening process can be easily absorbed. This is particularly useful because the cutting tooth is a protruding part of the cutting element and therefore tends to break off. Adjustments to the cutting element that affect the separation process, such as those described in the previous explanations, are usually located in the area of the cutting tooth. However, it is usually sufficient to limit such changes locally in order to save as much material as possible in the rest of the cutting element. In this sense, any reinforcement of the cutting element can be viewed as a thickening that protrudes inwards on the hollow cylinder and, for example, has a maximum of 95% of the inner radius of the rest of the hollow cylinder.

According to a further teaching of the invention, at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of the surface of the intermediate region facing the cutting element should be covered by a projection of the cutting element parallel to the central axis. It has been shown that such a cover is useful in order to further enhance the effect of the invention. In this case, it is useful to use the projection of the entire cutting element to define this overlap, because it rotates around the central axis and the cutting tooth therefore also moves along the entire intermediate region.

In another practical embodiment, the cutting element has two cutting teeth. In principle, the more cutting teeth a cutting element has, the faster it will go through the cutting phase and move on to folding away, provided that these are distributed fairly evenly around the circumference. On the other hand, the force when opening increases with each additional cutting tooth that simultaneously pierces the closure part when the cutting teeth are the same length. This selection achieves a good compromise between the number of turns of the screw cap required and the force required to do so.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an injection molding point is located on the closure part on the central axis. The individual components of the pouring element are usually manufactured using the injection molding process. In this process, a tool with a negative mold of the part to be produced is filled with liquid plastic, which then solidifies before this tool opens and ejects the finished part. Normally the liquid plastic is filled through a single nozzle, and when it is ejected the solidified plastic part separates from the rest of the plastic that is still in the nozzle. Of course this separation can also take place before ejection via the nozzle itself. In all cases a visible and usually protruding unevenness in the surface is created on the plastic part, which is commonly called the injection point. Filling with liquid plastic takes place more slowly the more material has to be pressed through narrow places, such as the weakened zone. Amazingly, it has been shown that the advantages of a central injection point and thus of even filling of the entire base body outweigh the disadvantages, even though a large part of the liquid plastic then has to move through the weakened zone.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, a composite package for liquid foodstuffs is designed in such a way that a pouring element according to the invention is integrated into the gable area of the composite package. There are various ways of producing such a composite package, as already explained above. The pouring element often serves primarily to close the opening in the gable area and has a rather secondary effect with regard to the dimensional stability of the composite package.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention relates to a composite package which is designed in such a way that a pouring element according to the invention is integrated into the gable area of the composite package, wherein the gable area has polyhedral gable surfaces which are correspondingly connected to a polyhedral flange of the pouring element. As already described, this combination allows a bottle-like composite package to be formed without the need for further components.

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausgießelement in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 2

das erfindungsgemäße Ausgießelement in Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

das erfindungsgemäße Ausgießelement aus Fig. 2 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie III-III,

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht des Vertikalschnitts aus Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

eine Detailansicht des Vertikalschnitts aus Fig. 3 während des Öffnungsvorgangs,

Fig. 6

eine Schraubkappe in Draufsicht,

Fig. 7

die Schraubkappe aus Fig. 6 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie VII-VII,

Fig. 8

die Schraubkappe aus Fig. 6 in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 9

ein Schneidelement gemäß Fig. 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 10

das Schneidelement in perspektivischer Ansicht von unten,

Fig. 11

eine erfindungsgemäße Verbundpackung mit integriertem Ausgießelement nach dem erstmaligen Öffnen und Wiederverschließen der Schraubkappe in aufgeschnittener perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 12

ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausgießelement eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 13

das erfindungsgemäße Ausgießelement aus Fig. 12 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 14

das erfindungsgemäße Ausgießelement aus Fig. 13 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie XIV-XIV,

Fig. 15

das erfindungsgemäße Ausgießelement aus Fig. 13 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie XV-XV,

Fig. 16

eine Detailansicht des Vertikalschnitts aus Fig. 15,

Fig. 17

eine Schraubkappe des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in perspektivischer Ansicht und

Fig. 18

ein Schneidelement des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in perspektivischer Ansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing only two preferred embodiments. In the drawing,

Fig.1

a pouring element according to the invention in perspective view,

Fig.2

the pouring element according to the invention in plan view,

Fig.3

the pouring element according to the invention Fig.2 in vertical section along line III-III,

Fig.4

a detailed view of the vertical section Fig.3 ,

Fig.5

a detailed view of the vertical section Fig.3 during the opening process,

Fig.6

a screw cap in top view,

Fig.7

the screw cap Fig.6 in vertical section along line VII-VII,

Fig.8

the screw cap Fig.6 in perspective view,

Fig.9

a cutting element according to Fig.3 in perspective view from above,

Fig.10

the cutting element in perspective view from below,

Fig. 11

a composite package according to the invention with an integrated pouring element after the screw cap has been opened and reclosed for the first time in a cut-away perspective view,

Fig. 12

a pouring element according to the invention of a second embodiment in perspective view,

Fig. 13

the pouring element according to the invention Fig. 12 in plan view,

Fig. 14

the pouring element according to the invention Fig. 13 in vertical section along line XIV-XIV,

Fig. 15

the pouring element according to the invention Fig. 13 in vertical section along the line XV-XV,

Fig. 16

a detailed view of the vertical section Fig. 15 ,

Fig. 17

a screw cap of the second embodiment in perspective view and

Fig. 18

a cutting element of the second embodiment in perspective view.

In the drawing, two preferred embodiments of a pouring element 1 and 1' according to the invention are shown in order to make the functionality clear when opening. In Fig.1 a first pouring element 1 is shown in the closed state with a central axis Z without a composite packaging P. A resealable screw cap 2, which serves for the initial opening and for the reclosure of the composite packaging P, is located on a base body 3, which is only Fig.3 clearly visible and from the Fig.1 only one circumferential flange 4 is visible, which serves for connection to and integration into the composite packing P. In the top view of Fig.2 Additionally, a section line III-III is drawn.

Fig.3 shows the entire pouring element 1 in vertical section along the section line III-III. The base body 3 also has a hollow cylindrical spout 5 and a closure part 6 formed in the spout 5. The closure part 6 comprises an annular weakening zone 7 which adjoins the spout 5, a central region 8 which closes the majority of the pouring opening, and a conical ring-shaped intermediate region 9 which extends between the weakening zone 7 and the central region 8. The bevel of the intermediate region 9 compensates for the difference in thickness between the central region 8 and the weakening zone 7.

Between the screw cap 2 and the outside of the spout 5 there is a first pair of threads 10A and 10B, which enables the screw cap 2 to be screwed on and off. A hollow cylindrical cutting element 11 with two cutting teeth 12 is arranged inside the base body 3, which separates the closure part 6 when the pouring element 1 and thus the composite packaging P is opened for the first time. The central axis Z is defined by the concentrically arranged hollow cylindrical elements of the nozzle 5 and the cutting element 11, the cutting element 11 rotating about the central axis Z and moving along it during the opening process. This movement is defined by a second thread pair 13A and 13B, which is located between the inside of the nozzle 5 and the cutting element 11. In this movement, the cutting element 11 is driven by at least one force transfer element 14, which interacts with at least one corresponding force transmission element 15 of the screw cap 2.

In the detailed views in Fig. 4 and 5 it is shown how the cutting teeth 12 hit the weakened zone 7 and the intermediate area 9 and begin to separate this area. Fig.3 and 4 show the original arrangement of the elements before the first opening and Fig.5 that during the opening process. Here it is particularly easy to see how the cutting element 11 and thus the cutting teeth 12 are arranged above the intermediate region 9, since the projection line also shows the inner boundary of the projection of the cutting tooth 12.

Fig. 6 to 8 correspond roughly to the views in Fig. 1 to 3 , whereby only the screw cap 2 is shown here. Particularly clearly visible are the half of the first thread pair 10A in Fig.7 and the three power transmission elements 15 in Fig.8 . The screw cap 2 also has a band 16 serving as an authenticity seal and an anchor ring 17. The band 16 detaches from the rest of the screw cap 2 immediately when it is opened for the first time and remains visibly separated in its original position. Stop elements 18 on the band 16, which hook onto corresponding elements of the base body 3, ensure that the band 16 has already detaches from the rest of the screw cap 2 before the cutting element 11 impairs the integrity of the closure part 6 when it is cut open. The anchor ring 17 also detaches during the initial opening process and then remains on the spout 5, with the anchor ring 17 and the rest of the screw cap 2 remaining connected by holding elements. These are designed in such a way that the screw cap 2, after it has been unscrewed from the spout 5, can be folded away to the side in order to enable pouring. The arrangement of the mentioned parts of the screw cap 2 and the The corresponding elements of the grommet 5 are also shown in the detailed views of Fig. 4 and 5 to see.

In Fig.9 and 10 Furthermore, a single cutting element 11 is shown in two different perspective views. The two cutting teeth 12, which are formed at the lower end of the cutting element 11, are clearly visible. The three force transfer elements 14 on the inner wall and the thread of the second thread pair 13B on the outer wall can also be seen.

An opened composite package P with a resealed screw cap 2 is shown in the cutaway view of the Fig. 11 from the inside, with one tab in particular being noticeable. This is caused because the closure part 6 loses its tension during the separation process before the cutting element 11 can cut a complete circle. The tab, which roughly corresponds to the central area 8 and the intermediate area 9, then only holds on to a single segment of the weakened zone 7, is pushed to the side by the further movement of the cutting element 11 and thus frees the pouring opening. This segment of the weakened zone 7 is sufficient to keep the tab in its "folded away" state when the composite pack P is opened in order to reliably prevent the tab from accidentally tearing off and the weakened zone 7 from being completely severed. The cutting tooth 12 formed at the front in the direction of rotation comes to be positioned at the end of the initial opening so that it is level with the tab and thus holds it stably to the side.

The Fig. 12 to 18 The drawing shows a second preferred embodiment, whereby the differences are particularly highlighted. The remaining details of the first embodiment also apply to the following part. The flange 4' of the base body 3' is designed here as a truncated pyramid in a polyhedral shape. It is particularly important to note that the contact surfaces with the composite material of the composite packing P' are no longer in one plane, but are defined by the four side surfaces of the truncated pyramid, as can be seen particularly in Fig. 12 to 14 Apart from the flange 4', the basic structure of the pouring element 1' is comparable to the first embodiment: It is also a three-part pouring element 1' with a base body 3', a Screw cap 2' and a cutting element 11'. Between screw cap 2' and the outside of the nozzle 5' of the base body 3' there is the first thread pair 10A', 10B' and the second thread pair 13A', 13B' connects the inside of the nozzle 5' with the cutting element 11' in order to arrange it movably therein. Similar elements to transfer force during the opening process from the screw cap 2' to the cutting element 11' are also designed, whereby in Figs. 17 and 18 It can be seen that the screw cap 2' and the cutting element 11' are connected to each other by two force transfer elements 14' and force transmission elements 15'.

Finally, Fig. 15 and 16 It is impressive that the cutting element 11' can also be modified by increasing the thickness of the cutting tooth 12', particularly in the upper area. The cutting element 11' is thus thickened radially inwards so that when mounted it protrudes over the intermediate area 9' and comes into contact with it during the opening process.

Claims (15)

1. Pouring element (1, 1') for a composite package (P, P'), comprising:

   - a main body (3, 3') with a flange (4, 4'), a hollow cylindrical spout (5, 5'), which defines a central axis (Z), and a closure part (6, 6') formed in the spout (5, 5'), which runs substantially orthogonal to the central axis (Z), with a central region (8, 8') and a weakening zone (7, 7') running in a ring shape around the central region (8, 8'), wherein a conical ring-shaped intermediate region (9, 9') is formed between the weakening zone (7, 7') and the central region (8, 8'),

   - a hollow cylindrical cutting element (11, 11') movably guided in the spout (5, 5') with at least one cutting tooth (12, 12') for severing the weakening zone (7, 7') to open the spout (5, 5') and composite package,

   - a reclosable screw cap (2, 2'), which serves to drive the cutting element (11, 11') when the composite package is opened initially, characterised in that
   the cutting element (11, 11') and the closure part (6, 6') are designed such that at least one part of a projection of the cutting tooth (12, 12') lies parallel to the central axis (Z) on the intermediate region (9, 9').
2. Pouring element according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the weakening zone (7, 7') has less than 50% of the height of the central region (9, 9') measured parallel to the central axis (Z).
3. Pouring element according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the weakening zone (7, 7') extends between an inner radius and an outer radius substantially orthogonal to the central axis (Z).
4. Pouring element according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius is at least twice as large, measured parallel to the central axis (Z), as the height of the weakening zone (7, 7').
5. Pouring element according to claim 3 or 4,
   characterised in that
   an inner radius of the hollow cylindrical cutting element (11, 11') comprises a maximum of 95% of the inner radius of the weakening zone (7, 7').
6. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the weakening zone (7, 7') connects directly to the spout (5, 5').
7. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the cutting tooth (12, 12') is designed to be ground on the inside at the end facing the weakening zone (7, 7').
8. Pouring element according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the ground joint of the cutting tooth (12, 12') continuously transitions relative to and along the central axis (Z) from a chamfered inner surface into an inner surface parallel to the central axis (Z).
9. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the cutting tooth (12, 12') extends at the end facing the weakening zone (7, 7') in a circumferential direction in a plane orthogonal to the central axis (Z).
10. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the cutting element (11, 11') is designed to be radially thickened inwards in the region of the cutting tooth (12, 12').
11. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of the surface of the intermediate region (9, 9') facing the cutting element (11, 11') is covered by a projection of the cutting element (11, 11') parallel to the central axis (Z).
12. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the cutting element (11, 11') has two cutting teeth (12, 12').
13. Pouring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    an injection-moulding point is located on the closure part (6, 6') on the central axis (Z).
14. Composite package (P, P') for liquid foodstuffs which is provided such that a pouring element (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is integrated into the gable region of the composite package.
15. Composite package (P') for liquid foodstuffs, according to claim 14, characterised in that
    the gable region has polyhedral gable surfaces, which are correspondingly connected to a polyhedral flange (4') of the pouring element (1').

Images